Peat is excellent stuff to use , when needed. I recall that its not neutral and will lower the PH of the soil. If you have high ph and clumpy soil it would be fine to use.I posted a link a few pages back on where to get soil test done for 15 dollars and that will tell you exactly whats going on. This time of year it would probably take a week for results. The extra peat could of caused a shift in PH. When you go to work the soil again use something that will counter act against the peat. When your soil is right , it will do wonders for veggies. correct soil consistency and PH is one of the most important things to have for flourishing plants. Also I am not saying that this is your problem , just a possibility. A soil test will give you the info your looking for. It also test for nutrients in the soil, except for Nitrogen.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg011202587188.html

Also you can use a hole saw to make some drainage holes.
Heres a link for plant PH, bottom of the page.
http://www.tinkersgardens.com/vegetables/misc.asp

If it makes you feel any better , my dang dog took a gallop through the garden and broke 2 pepper plants yesterday.

My garden is done. I just put up 5 pints of chow-chow (green tomato relish). I have 30 pints of spaghetti sauce in the freezer, along with 16 pints of creole sause, and 8 stuffed bell peppers. I canned 24 pints of salsa.

I'm tired of it.

June 19, 2010 Harvest: 50 Tam Jalapeno Peppers, 12 Cucumbers, 11 Sweet Banana Peppers, 7 Lemon Boy Tomatoes, 17 Tomatoes (mixture of Big Boy, Early Girl, Better Boy, and Homestead), 5 Large Cherry Tomatoes, 2 Gypsy Peppers, 3 Cubanelle Peppers, 55 Roma Tomatoes, 5 California Wonder Peppers, 12 Anaheim Chile Peppers, 2 Hot Banana Peppers, 11 Cayenne Peppers and 5 Hot Jalapeno Peppers...

I think they have a club on the forum that you can join...

I'm starting to dislike me too...It's HUMID in the mornings and it takes about an hour to harvest...I'll be replacing the tomato plants after everything has ripened...

had to yank a couple of squash plants today... they were overran with squash bugs.. decided to pull them before they started jacking with the other plants.. sucks too.. one had 5 fruits and the other had 3 starting to develop.

I usually just buy new plants...I like to see the different varieties available and I've been very blessed this year to be able to grow so many varieties...

I've got to put some Miracle Gro and then put some Sevin dust on mine...Doodle bugs and squash bugs have been my biggest problems with the squash plants, but mainly it's been the doodle bugs...

when is it time to plant fall tomatoes and what is the best type to plant in FT Worth area,not cherry but a med size one

I make 4 to 6 pints of chow-chow. That's a green tomato relish for those of you who don't know. I chop up green tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, jalapenos (one per pint) and onions, cover with vinegar and bring to a boil. I end up with about half the volume, after straining and putting the chow-chow into pint jars. I don't hot bath those. They always seal. I keep the chow-chow in my frig.

I only use salt and sugar in there. It takes about 30 minutes if you have a food chopper. You could use a blender, and put your vinegar in for the liquid. You can make as little as a couple of pints at one time. Some people use cabbage.

I made a huge dent in the doo doo bugs by laying some boards on the ground. Let the boards collect a lot of moisture , water around the boards. The doo doo bugs and snails will collect in this area in about a day or 2. lift the board and spray them with some insecticide.

+1

By mid-July is a good time...I'd try to find Homestead, Heatwave or Celebrity tomato plants...All should do well...

Thanks for the info. They have been HORRIBLE this year...

Well. My butternut, zucchini, squash and cukes are all dying and showing the same 'sore'. I'm guessing it's those darn squash bugs you guys are talking about?





so now I've been reduced to peppers, okra and believe it or not my carrots are still going. I'm ready to yank everything and start over

thought i would show yall a few pics of my garden. i got it in late due to tiller issues but i fixed that by buying me a new troy built! i have tomatoes (mr. stripey, celebrity, big beef, and lemon boy). jalapenos, sweet banana, and bell peppers, okra, yellow and zuchinni squash, and a watermelon plant that my wife requested. come to find out she was kidding about the watermelon after i planted it! enjoy

looks like squash vine borer to me. They will some times attack cucumbers. If you slice the stem open you will find a big ol fat worm. You can slice the stem and cut it out and mend the cut under soil. Stick a wire in the hole and try and kill him that way or another way I heard is to inject some rotenone in the stem to kill. Have you seen these in the past If you dont kill them they will bury themselves in the dirt at seasons end and over winter and be waiting for you next year. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1209.html

nice, I like the way the soil looks.

Hey guys,

Anyone got any ideas how to keep birds off of tomatoes?