2026 Gardening Growing Thread

How often do you water. How often do you fertilize, and where are you located ?

I'd cut off all the yellow leaves and cut them off at the main stem, each leaf 'frond' entirely.
Not seeing the typical symptoms of early blight, as I posted previously.
Lastly, what did you use for soil ?
I’ts possible I’ve overwatered them? I don’t have a schedule per se, but generally a few times a week, always gently and at the soil level.

I’ve applied 2 doses of “Tomato Tone” so far, in a wide ring around the plants. My raised bed tomatoes are doing fine with this.
IMG_8234.jpeg

I’m located in Tacoma. I did some DIY soil testing the other day but I’m not confident I did the tests correctly. Showed low nitrogen levels. Pots are filled with a 50/50 mix of Fox Farm “ocean forest” potting mix and Tagro. Perhaps I need to bump up the fertilizer levels?
 
I'd fertilize...

On the soils, that combo is certainly nutrient dense, but also heavy and may not drain as well as tomatoes would like, thus holding moisture for long enough to cause issues. There's gas exchange at the root level, and heavy, dense soils when watered heavily don't allow for the gas exchange, as the space between the particles is filled with water, and also the soil settles tighter in the pot. Container growing typically needs a light, fast draining soil , much faster than in ground soils drainage wise.
This extended wet period is not to a tomato plants liking, and can lead to other issues such as Fusarium.

Lift a pot and feel around in the drain holes at the bottom, do a potted plant prostate exam so to speak, stick a finger in the drain hole as far as you can...use two fingers if you want a second opinion...
😁

If your finger comes out wet, and muddy, there's drainage issues. You can drill holes in the bottom of the pot to help alleviate this, and even use a bamboo stake to poke through the soils aligning with your new drilled holes, but you may damage some roots, so be gentle.
You'll then need to dry things out a bit, put some sort of riser under the pot like a piece of wood or anything that gets the pot away from direct contact to the ground, then only water when the plant 'asks' for it, when the leaves droop a bit in the morning...as it's not uncommon for leaves on tomatoes in pots to droop a bit in hot direct sun, as the black pots can raise soil temps above their comfort zone.

Not seeing Alterneria symptoms, so next look for dark brown lesions on the stems at ground level...an indicator for Fusarium.

Based on what you have said, I'm inclined to think poor drainage or associated soil borne pathogens, but its hard to diagnose things without hands on of course.

Tomatoes are reasonably heavy feeders, but Nitrogen isn't something they need a ton of, so not to concerning...use the fertilize you have, and it's formulated fine...Nitrogen is water soluble, so feed regularly.
 
I'd fertilize...

On the soils, that combo is certainly nutrient dense, but also heavy and may not drain as well as tomatoes would like, thus holding moisture for long enough to cause issues. There's gas exchange at the root level, and heavy, dense soils when watered heavily don't allow for the gas exchange, as the space between the particles is filled with water, and also the soil settles tighter in the pot. Container growing typically needs a light, fast draining soil , much faster than in ground soils drainage wise.
This extended wet period is not to a tomato plants liking, and can lead to other issues such as Fusarium.

Lift a pot and feel around in the drain holes at the bottom, do a potted plant prostate exam so to speak, stick a finger in the drain hole as far as you can...use two fingers if you want a second opinion...
😁

If your finger comes out wet, and muddy, there's drainage issues. You can drill holes in the bottom of the pot to help alleviate this, and even use a bamboo stake to poke through the soils aligning with your new drilled holes, but you may damage some roots, so be gentle.
You'll then need to dry things out a bit, put some sort of riser under the pot like a piece of wood or anything that gets the pot away from direct contact to the ground, then only water when the plant 'asks' for it, when the leaves droop a bit in the morning...as it's not uncommon for leaves on tomatoes in pots to droop a bit in hot direct sun, as the black pots can raise soil temps above their comfort zone.

Not seeing Alterneria symptoms, so next look for dark brown lesions on the stems at ground level...an indicator for Fusarium.

Based on what you have said, I'm inclined to think poor drainage or associated soil borne pathogens, but its hard to diagnose things without hands on of course.

Tomatoes are reasonably heavy feeders, but Nitrogen isn't something they need a ton of, so not to concerning...use the fertilize you have, and it's formulated fine...Nitrogen is water soluble, so feed regularly.
Thanks for the advice @Mossback
Much appreciated!
 
Thanks for the advice @Mossback
Glad to help.
I grew large scale tomato plantings in ground and in containers for years, and have had all the problems that there are with tomatoes...at least all the problems that I know of.

Late blight is the worst, everything is going great, fruit is hanging, things look good and within a couple weeks after onset of late blight it's all gone to hell.
🤣
 
You can always pick up at pot and feel for weight, if you haven't watered for a few days and it's heavy...it's likely a drainage issue.
 
Glad to help.
I grew large scale tomato plantings in ground and in containers for years, and have had all the problems that there are with tomatoes...at least all the problems that I know of.

Late blight is the worst, everything is going great, fruit is hanging, things look good and within a couple weeks after onset of late blight it's all gone to hell.
🤣
I do remember your tomato growing posts on the old site and was secretly hoping you’d chime in for advice. Not that there aren’t other great tomato growers around here but it seems like you know a thing or two. If Skip was still with us I’d take his advice as well.
 
Question for the tomato experts. My neighbor said there was a lot of wind last night, but I sure didn’t hear it. I’ve also had deer visit in the past and heard some yelling last night. So not really sure what happened.🤔
Anyway, I lost about 20 tomatoes which isn’t my main concern. Some of the plants got a lot of dirt on them. I brushed off as much as possible and cut off any broken limbs. I plan to check them out again this afternoon when things are drier.
Is the dirt on them combined with last nights rain likely to cause them any issues? I know they don’t like leaves touching the dirt.
Thanks for your input.
SF

IMG_7479.jpeg
 
Brush off the dirt, and unless there's pathogen spores on the dirt,they'll be shocked for a few days,but should recover.
Being it's going to be hot and sunny, giving them some shade while they recover and adjust might help.
Never really know of course, but I've had pots tip over, and just carefully cleaning them up, pruning the broken or damaged branches off they eventually bounced back

Good luck
 
Brush off the dirt, and unless there's pathogen spores on the dirt,they'll be shocked for a few days,but should recover.
Being it's going to be hot and sunny, giving them some shade while they recover and adjust might help.
Never really know of course, but I've had pots tip over, and just carefully cleaning them up, pruning the broken or damaged branches off they eventually bounced back

Good luck

Thanks
Luckily none became unrooted. Just the dirt at the top of the pots came out. I gave them a good watering once I got them all back upright. Hopefully they’ll recover.
SF
 
Kind of a funky gardening year…..my cherry tomatoes are doing fine but not the cucumbers? Planted at the same time, good soil, sun, watered, fertilized, great starts from Capinitos but I call mine “pukeumbers!” I’ve never been able to grow squash plants…..screw them next year!

IMG_4986.jpeg
 
Cucumbers don't really grow well till around now...and cold water early just stunts them.
Used to plant mine about now, and they need higher soil temps to do well, so planting later is best.
Expect they will grow now with some fertilizer, and hope they do better for you
 
As an aside, that soil looks pretty wet for cukes, unless you just watered before the pic
Also, sort of looks like the plants are planted low, with higher soils around them, and they prefer to planted at the top of a slight mound for sharp drainage
 
My cucumbers are kind of runts as well so far, but seem to be taking off now.
Yellow squash are doing great. This is after harvesting four for my neighbor this morning.
Damn things get big quickly.
Zucchini are starting to go now as well.
SF

IMG_7483.jpegIMG_7482.jpegIMG_7481.jpeg
 
The only time you lock your door in Quilcene is during zucchini season....
😁
 
As an aside, that soil looks pretty wet for cukes, unless you just watered before the pic
Also, sort of looks like the plants are planted low, with higher soils around them, and they prefer to planted at the top of a slight mound for sharp drainage
Yes they were watered in the morning, and they are planted fairly level with the sides raised for watering. I picked the early flowers off to try to promote growing…..same with the tomatoes.
 
yeah cukes don't like a wet crown...try to water them away from the base of the plant, and only when they ask for water
 
Posted this in the foraging thread but think it has gardening potential.

We have a couple dozen or so native wild blackcap raspberry plants (rubus leucodermis) scattered around the cleared area of our property. One set of canes is growing next to our raised beds.

A few weeks ago I noticed quite a few berries coming on so wrapped them in chicken wire. Nothing fancy (OK, a legit tedneck job) but just wanted to see what we'd get with no birds.

20260712_103015.jpg]

Picked about a half carton this morning from the protecred canes. Not much yield but not bad considering fully natural production. And great flavor.

20260712_103001.jpg

Also found a few unprotected berries the birds hadn't gotten to yet for a mostly full carton.

20260712_094717.jpg

Slim pickings but enough to try transplanting a row of canes this Fall. Hoping that some mulch, regular watering, light fertilizer, in a properly screened row will produce enough for some preserves next summer.

Open to any advice/suggestions on growing blackcaps.
 
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