I decided to increase my garden this year, so I started another about
200 yards from the first, virtually the same type soil, but full sun
and better drainage.

In my old garden I set out 8 tomato plants, they now have small
tomatoes and are about waist high (30"). In the new garden I set out
7 different varieties of Heirloom tomatoes, and one variety of Hybrid
(Better Boy).

In the new garden, which I set out 2 weeks after the old garden, the
plants are from 12 to 18" tall, some with stalks almost as large as
yourthumb, and blooming, but they are just not growing upwards. I
fertilized and composted the rows, about a week ago I put 1/2 tsp of
10-20-10 fertilizer, still they are bushing out not up.I also have a
row of Bell peppers and they are doing virtually the same thing.

Any suggestions on what is missing in the soil. Oh!, there is a total
of 68 plants, all doing about the same.

Woops, one more important thing. I treated the new garden with
Treflan preeminence 2 weeks before setting out the plants. I only did
about 1/2 the recommended application rate.

Thanks for you time-SodB

"Sodbuster7!" <here [at] thebottom.net> wrote in message
news:r2gp62p2788mb5vq2nmieln2bb6biohh39 [at] 4ax.com...
>I decided to increase my garden this year, so I started another about
> 200 yards from the first, virtually the same type soil, but full sun
> and better drainage.
>
> In my old garden I set out 8 tomato plants, they now have small
> tomatoes and are about waist high (30"). In the new garden I set out
> 7 different varieties of Heirloom tomatoes, and one variety of Hybrid
> (Better Boy).
>
> In the new garden, which I set out 2 weeks after the old garden, the
> plants are from 12 to 18" tall, some with stalks almost as large as
> yourthumb, and blooming, but they are just not growing upwards. I
> fertilized and composted the rows, about a week ago I put 1/2 tsp of
> 10-20-10 fertilizer, still they are bushing out not up.I also have a
> row of Bell peppers and they are doing virtually the same thing.
>
> Any suggestions on what is missing in the soil. Oh!, there is a total
> of 68 plants, all doing about the same.
>
> Woops, one more important thing. I treated the new garden with
> Treflan preeminence 2 weeks before setting out the plants. I only did
> about 1/2 the recommended application rate.

I haven't grown them for years, but I read that you have to pinch out
the growth in the joints where it branches out, don't know what it's
called. I did that, seemed to do fine, also didn't seem to have many
bees that year so tickled the blossoms to pollinate. They would have
done better in full sun, but you do what you have to do; they were on
the east side of the house which got more sun then.

But you seem to have grown more years than I so should know more than I
do about it.

One cherry tomato went crazy and I had to fasten it to the house, it
went up to the roof.
>
> Thanks for you time-SodB

"Sodbuster7!" <here [at] thebottom.net> wrote in message
news:r2gp62p2788mb5vq2nmieln2bb6biohh39 [at] 4ax.com...
>I decided to increase my garden this year, so I started another about
> 200 yards from the first, virtually the same type soil, but full sun
> and better drainage.
>
> In my old garden I set out 8 tomato plants, they now have small
> tomatoes and are about waist high (30"). In the new garden I set out
> 7 different varieties of Heirloom tomatoes, and one variety of Hybrid
> (Better Boy).
>
> In the new garden, which I set out 2 weeks after the old garden, the
> plants are from 12 to 18" tall, some with stalks almost as large as
> yourthumb, and blooming, but they are just not growing upwards. I
> fertilized and composted the rows, about a week ago I put 1/2 tsp of
> 10-20-10 fertilizer, still they are bushing out not up.I also have a
> row of Bell peppers and they are doing virtually the same thing.
>
> Any suggestions on what is missing in the soil. Oh!, there is a total
> of 68 plants, all doing about the same.
>
> Woops, one more important thing. I treated the new garden with
> Treflan preeminence 2 weeks before setting out the plants. I only did
> about 1/2 the recommended application rate.
>
> Thanks for you time-SodB


If you planted edible things where there was weed killer, the condition of
your plants may be the least of your problems. Did you read the Treflan
label? What lead you to believe it was safe around food crops?

On Thu, 18 May 2006 20:30:14 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
<dishborealis [at] yahoo.com> wrote:

>"Sodbuster7!" <here [at] thebottom.net> wrote in message
>news:r2gp62p2788mb5vq2nmieln2bb6biohh39 [at] 4ax.com...
>>I decided to increase my garden this year, so I started another about
>> 200 yards from the first, virtually the same type soil, but full sun
>> and better drainage.
>>
>> In my old garden I set out 8 tomato plants, they now have small
>> tomatoes and are about waist high (30"). In the new garden I set out
>> 7 different varieties of Heirloom tomatoes, and one variety of Hybrid
>> (Better Boy).
>>
>> In the new garden, which I set out 2 weeks after the old garden, the
>> plants are from 12 to 18" tall, some with stalks almost as large as
>> yourthumb, and blooming, but they are just not growing upwards. I
>> fertilized and composted the rows, about a week ago I put 1/2 tsp of
>> 10-20-10 fertilizer, still they are bushing out not up.I also have a
>> row of Bell peppers and they are doing virtually the same thing.
>>
>> Any suggestions on what is missing in the soil. Oh!, there is a total
>> of 68 plants, all doing about the same.
>>
>> Woops, one more important thing. I treated the new garden with
>> Treflan preeminence 2 weeks before setting out the plants. I only did
>> about 1/2 the recommended application rate.
>>
>> Thanks for you time-SodB
>
>
>If you planted edible things where there was weed killer, the condition of
>your plants may be the least of your problems. Did you read the Treflan
>label? What lead you to believe it was safe around food crops?

Joe, I did my homework on the treflan. It is not a weed killer, it
inhibits seeds from sprouting. The label recommended use on tomatoes,
peppers and many other edibles. It is widely used by commercial
growers and is the active ingredient in "Preen" sold for gardens in
Walmart Garder Center. BUT, I do share your concern for harmful
chemicals and had I it to do over I would not use it.

Thanks for your post-SodB
>