We NEED To figure this out! First Garden Tour 2024

[@carolarehart1234]

Thanks! Hi Kevin and Sarah. We have our soil results from our HANSONS compost and using VEGEGA raised beds. Zero for all nutrients. Neutral ph. I’m believing with lots of amendments we will both turn around these gardens ASAP. We have been watching your journey since you moved to Missouri, Thanks for sharing. Carol Arehart, My Kentucky Home❤

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Thank you so much!

[@tradermunky1998]

"I just wet my plants." I just busted out laughing, great shirt!

[@suzieq763]

Becky from Acre Homestead had a similar issue when she first started her raised beds. The soil test came back and the soil was deficient in Lots of minerals. Becky used some amendments, the plants went from being small and yellow to green and thriving, she had a wonderful harvest. Hope this info was helpful. Good luck.

[@sewingstoryprojects6178]

I 💗 Becky

[@joycedagostino8869]

Yes, I agree about the soil. We had always bought a certain brand of organic raised bed soil and had no issues. In 2022 we bought the same and something was very wrong with the soil. We either lost plants or they were stunted. Since the plants started inside were doing Ok, and they failed or had issues once they were planted outside in that soil, I didn't need a soil test to know that it was the soil. I had to try to remove that soil that we could and replace with another and that helped, but I was not happy that the company didn't check their soil before selling it. This happened during covid when so many companies were cutting corners and unfortunately I think they went with cheaper ingredients. Some of these companies add things like wood chips and bark that haven't been aged so the wood ties up nitrogen for example as the wood ages that makes the plants struggle and it can take all season for the chips to finally age.

[@prmayner]

@@joycedagostino8869 A lot of issues arose from 2020 with all products. We had a deck built and the treated wood turned white and now it's turning black and looks 400 years old.

[@colleenboerner3838]

This reminds me of your buckets in your greenhouse when you bought all the bag soil to later learn it wasn't all that great and you needed to amend it and now it's wonderful soil. I think you probably will need to amend your raised beds for wonderful soil out there too

[@blujeans9462]

Good point! I know that they don't believe the issue has anything to do with the raised beds...but you can't argue with the facts. Tomatoes in the greenhouse are great; tomatoes in the raised beds, not so much. I had forgotten about those bags of soil that they did not have much luck with. Hope they do whatever they did before - because that greenhouse is amazing.

[@forehead949]

Do some rabbit tea injected into your drip?

[@deborahq7251]

Something similar happened w Jess at Roots and Refuge. The compost she had delivered was contaminated with Grazon. Just something else to consider if the soil test doesn’t solve your problem. She did a “rant” video and while she was very upset, it was very informative.

[@faithevrlasting]

This is something I warned in a comment when u filled your beds. The best thing to do is test plant w beans to see if your soil is contaminated before you plant anything else after bringing in soil from outside your homestead. The supplier as reputable as they are, may not know what is in there. I would get a soil test for grazon and roundup. Roots and Refuge has a mitigation plan set of videos however it will take a year to recover it with mushrooms as they did. You dont want to consume these if they are present. Homesteading Family is going thru this right now.

[@coryart]

Was about to make a similar comment. Learned from R&R that the compost companies aren't necessarily at fault. They may source manure from cow's, goats etc. that had grazed on grasses that were sprayed with Grazon. The bean plants grow the fastest and show the damage the quickest from Grazon contamination. Planting beans in purchased soil is the most efficient way to test for Grazon contamination because it doesn't show up in standard soil tests.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

It's easy to tell if Grazon is present: leaves will be twisted, curled, and stunted. I TOTALLY agree that testing first by growing beans in a medium is smart, but I think they've got a nitrogen deficiency here. Nitrogen will green up leaves and increase green growth quickly! Or maybe they just need to build more shade-cloth structures...

[@ambreewilliams6585]

They are currently growing beans and they germinated fine. But even with beans being a nitrogen fixer, they're pretty yellow. So it seems they just need to fertilize their soil because their plants need a feeding!

[@capnjan9835]

I was just going to mention that... Nasty stuff and used with abandon in cow rich areas. You also feed hay... Unless you know for sure the origins of it, their manure could be contaminated. I pray for you it that is wrong.prayers Kevin and Sarah.

[@AZJH8374]

Please pray for Evan. Age 7 was diagnosed with leukemia. His family needs our prayers 🙏🏻 God bless you Kevin & Sarah. Nurse Judi in AZ and E Minister 🙏🏻

[@itsJustMe-fx1dm]

🙏🙏🙏

[@anniemorrison1250]

Lord, I ask that you lay your hands on Evan and heal him completely from leukemia. Family my heart goes out to you. We will include Evan in our communion this Sunday. I hope he is healed soon. Never give up on our Lord God Almighty. He hears your prayers. He answers prayers. It may not be immediate, but it will come. Have faith! I do.

[@barbaradumler6503]

Will keep Evan in my prayers!🙏

[@RitaMcCartt]

joe tippens protocol and Maggie Mcgee protocol

[@26skogen]

🙏🙏

[@carolarehart1234]

Good morning. I was so glad to see this video today because we are having the same issue. We ordered the same compost from the same supplier as you, and the multiple Vegega raised beds. We don’t have drip irrigation, so have relied on rainfall and hand watering with rain water. Just last night we made the decision to start fertilizing heavily. Our plants look yellow, spindly, and all are stunted. We had added some perlite and a little vermiculite to each bed prior to planting. In our old tub planters (with old soil) our eggplants and beans are thriving, and they have received the same amount of water. A soil test is what we need too. Can’t wait to hear your results.

[@mariomenard7049]

WARNING: Friendly advice from Eastern Ontario… Your marigold flowers in your raised bed could be an issue. The issue is you could be driving away the most important pollinators away from your garden. Native bees (often called mason bees) don’t like marigolds. I speak from experience Sarah and Kevin. About 7 years ago I planted those flowers in my garden and there were no mason bees whatsoever in my garden - Despite the fact that I always have mason bees houses within a few feet of my garden. I spoke to an older gardener in his 80’s and he told me about the marigolds being a repellent for mason bees. I immediately removed all the marigolds and within a couple days the mason bees were back. Those little things are my favourite pollinators by far. One single mason bee does the job of up to 100 honey bees. Anyway, I could go on forever about those native bees but I don’t want to bore you to death. Just thought I’d give you a head’s up. Take care

[@dianalatta6025]

I think she said the flowers were calendula, not marigolds.

[@diananore1368]

Calendula at the end of one bed but another bed had an entire row of marigolds started..

[@danaparker2757]

It’s been my experience that when growing in 1st year raised beds, liquid fertilizer is a must. I can’t stop giggling at Kevin’s shirt!🤣

[@Maria-ql3fc]

I'm sorry you guys are having a bad experience with your first year in the metal raised beds. I know without a doubt the compost is lacking in nitrogen . If you guys compost your chicken manure that would be a good source of nitrogen and calcium , if not fish emulsion will help. I really like Agrothrive all purpose fertilizer and their fruit and flower, both are organic. All my plants love it and it helps build healthy rich soil in the raised beds. Raised beds drain so well they leech out nutrients pretty quickly so I fertilize my beds once a week. Thank the Lord for keeping His hands on your dad, God is so good. ❤️

[@tonypinson4108]

I grind up eggshells in the food processor and sprinkle around the base of affected plants to get rid of the aphids in the soil. Works on the same premise as DE, difference is when the eggshells get wet, it's still effective. May prove helpful while waiting on your lady bugs to arrive....

[@pattimincher4201]

We love using Rabbit Manue in our raised beds.

[@djnana1156]

She didn't use it this year.

[@JmarieD]

I do too. It's fantastic. I've thought about getting rabbits just for their poo. 😂

[@cyhomer]

..this year I used rabbit manure on my flower beds…and OMG! What a huge difference!

[@TexasVeteranPatriot]

From the color and stunting, looks like root stress from overwatering. Allow the soil to dry out a bit more between waterings. Deep watering, infrequently. Every other day is too frequent if your not getting at least "2 knuckles " of dry soil when tested between. You can sprinkle epsom salt to keep fungus down and help the root stress. As to the inconsistent growth and coloration, this can happen esp with overwatering because each plant is different and tolerates stress differently from it's neighbor. Some plants don't mind "wet feet", but some do. Allow the beds to dry until first signs of "limping" and set water schedule for that time duration between minus one day. Increase water duration to saturate beds thoroughly and allow them time necessary to dry out between. Makes for a deeper, stronger root system and a healthier stronger plant.

[@willardkathy9588]

I hesitate to comment as you 2 have so much experience. But as I have been growing in south Georgia for 15 years in really poor soil. 2 THINGS, I do believe there are issues with using all compost. Don't know why you don't have same in the green house. I haven't had much luck with home soil tests. I get my soil tested by the county extension. From UGA. Your state University should have an extension office near you. Next, I have learned that marigolds are not compatible with legumes. Can stunt growth. I sometimes just wipe aphids off with a gloved hand. It is tedious but might help until Lady bugs arrive. Thank Goodness for your green house.

[@LazyKFarmstead]

I know that too much water is part of my troubles. 20+ inches of rain the last couple of months has been alot.

[@viper04af]

Just put some 49-0-0 urea on it. They will double size in few days. I have had to feed mine every week or two this season (in Missouri also) Use feather meal and blood meal for longer term

[@anitariley2681]

@@LazyKFarmstead Even will all the rain we've had, the egg shell trick really works! Just gets that calcium deeper into the soil....

[@hartshomesteadaustralia3837]

Yeh I believe if they dug one of the plants up more than likely the roots will be brown and thin. Could be a lack of nitrogen in the soil which manure will do wonders. You can’t beat homemade soil from compost from your own homestead and manure which builds nutrient density into your soils and food brought soils these days you just can’t trust

[@stephensalinas9411]

In regards to your yellowing leaves and stunted growth within the composted raised beds. I recently got free compost from our city recycling center. I built a brand new raised bed with the free compost. I also used some composted topsoil that is available at home depot. However, I am having the same issues you guys are having. one plant grows well, another has yellow leaves, and doesnt grow, then some plants eek out a living. Then I have other plants like geraniums doing fine in the same raised bed. So I was thinking maybe the city used items that had chemicals to kill weeds or some other herbicide when they made the compost. So I was thinking this compost was tainted and the one plant that is surviving just happens to be immune to herbicide. I am curious to what you guys find out in your soil test.

[@Ruthannzimm]

You’ll love the Jade green beans!!! They’re my favorite!!!

[@tessesmom]

Love your shirt Kevin ❤

[@portialancaster3442]

Kevin has the best t-shirts.

[@brenm4894]

Pure alfalfa pellets are a good source of nitrogen also. Scratch a few into the soil surface.

[@allenferry9632]

Has Keven started polishing up his salt shaker and cleaning all the holes in preparation for the start of tomatoe season. This time of year he looks like a Labrador waiting for someone to throw the stick.

[@willardkathy9588]

County Extension soil analysis will identify all issues. Even trace elements . A good cointy agent is your best friend. He/she will help wit every aspect of your garden. Only a phone call or email away.

[@LazyKFarmstead]

Thank you for this! I was beginning to think I was the only one struggling. All my local peeps bragging about luscious green plants can be disheartening. But! Today is our first farmers market and that always makes me happy! Anxious to see what your soil tests reveal.

[@sandyperreault9326]

Mo have had so much rain and too many cloudy days. I have had same issue with a little yellowing of leaves but still thriving.

[@petersoos498]

You guys have wonderful organization skills. love how well you work together. As for your lack of dark green color or vegetative plant growth, it shouts nitrogen deficiency. Herbicide contamination would have shown up as mutated, crinkly, gnarled looking leaves especially on your bean plants, which I grow as a test crop before adding outside sourced garden products since they grow so fast and will show herbicide damage very quickly. Your onion sets do better with bone meal worked in before planting. Organic compost aside, remember, composting products, organic or not, can deplete quite a bit of available nitrogen from the soil. Also, what is the compost made of before being composted? They run the spectrum from good to poor value especially the first year while repopulating the bacteria/fungal matrix of the soil. A quick, temporary check would have been to add some of your chicken litter around the base of a couple of each variety of plants and water it in. Stand back and watch what happens in 5 days...before and after pics. Happy Gardening!

[@marybethham4967]

Garden tour is going pretty good. Know you all will get a solution to the raised beds. Glad your Dad is doing ok. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 God Bless us all .

[@tammyohlsson7966]

I’ve been growing in these beds for three years. The first year was a struggle! Best advice, keep building your soil. It will get better. More organic material helps. Year three is magical! Blessings!

[@demetricadement1138]

Thanks fpr sharing thw good, bad and ugly. Prayers for your Dad.

[@Vintage43]

I have been battling aphids and flea beetles this season like I have not seen in previous growing seasons. I am starting to wonder if this infestation has something to do with the large amount of rain in my area of Missouri. Additionally, it seems like the vegetables are not growing as fast as I feel they should be. However, all the plants are a nice rich green. There is a lot of time left in the season, so my hopes are high for success.

[@mindycollier9087]

I'm battling deer issues like I haven't had in previous years!! My strawberry and cucumber plants are completely destroyed!! Since I live in an apartment complex things like double fencing, noise makers, and nasty deer repellent sprays are not an option for me!! I don't want to use cheyenne pepper because of the cats and the beneficial insects!! I may either try leaving heavy perfume scents like Irish Spring soap or Purex Crystals around my garden or just stick with plants that the deer won't eat!!

[@kristydickens1283]

Thanks for sharing your struggles. I had similar issues with my first year raised beds a few years ago. I’ve been amending them and they are much better now. The raised beds in the school garden I help with are in their second year and having similar struggles still. Yellow plants just not growing well. One thing I have done in my beds at home is add lots of leaves in the fall with alfalfa pellets. I don’t have access to a lot of compost so that was a good substitute. I also bury compostable kitchen scraps in my raised beds all winter long.

[@luminarygoddess8642]

Don’t forget to wet the leaves for the ladybugs to drink or they leave to get water

[@brendachapman4559]

Thanks for that info! That might be why all mine left. Much Love and Blessings

[@j.j.lisaadams8133]

Plant your basil next to your tomatoes. The book carrots love tomatoes is wondeful in letting you know what plants do well with others and what plant do not do well together!❤this is called, companoin planting!

[@lynnsweeney4529]

Thank you Kevin and Sarah for taking the time for sharing your garden issues with us. Especially for new gardeners like myself, it gives me hope to continue, that it's a problem that even the most experienced gardeners have issues too. As always, love your videos and keep your family in our prayers.😊

[@TonyaJCarter]

Glad your Dad is doing well. Garden looks good. 👍

[@susanstokesbrungard291]

Good Morning All. Hope you have a nice day. Lv and Prayers to all.

[@theresaniemann3899]

I love seeing the new plants in the Garden . Im sure you will find the problem in the outdoor garden and everything will be beautiful.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Anxious to see what your soil tests reveal. Hopefully you get it straightened out and have a big harvest. Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Fred.

[@jaredmccutcheon5496]

I have 12 of those corrugated metal raised beds and filled them with 5 year old aged horse manure and topped each off with compost. What I’ve learned is people expect too much out of compost, you absolutely must add fertilizer for the seedlings to get going quickly and periodically fertilize after that. I use a granular organic fertilizer spread out about 2” below the surface, then top with good quality finished compost and then I use AgroThrive liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks thereafter. My beds look like something out of Jurassic Park and it’s 100% organic. Barring a contamination issue with the original compost and assuming the PH is in an acceptable range I can almost guarantee you need to start dumping the fertilizer to your beds and they’ll start to thrive. If you guys haven’t tried AgroThrive, it’s great and it gives the plants an immediate boost unlike most organic fertilizers and it feeds the soil life, it’s the best organic liquid fertilizer I’ve ever tried.

[@dianaspaw4875]

We got Praying mantis from Amazon a couple of years ago and they lay their eggs in a pod thingy and are here all of the time now. We look for their pod things when we take out the finished plants and put them in a safe place inside the greenhouse. We love seeing the new little babies every spring ❤ We use ladybugs too, but the prayer mantis stays around. around. Good luck

[@Chill_Lil]

I was wondering if you would have problems with planting in high amount of compost. I was always told to use 1 part compost to 2 parts soil for raised beds. I usually do less. The reason is that the compost isn't always through composting and often lacks in all the trace nutrients plants need. You should have little or no problem fixing it. Someone suggested it might be Grazon too, I hope not! Danny and Wanda had that problem a few years ago. I wish you guys all the luck and hope for the best.

[@annmacbride3100]

I have raised beds as well (Vego gardens). We top them off every year with a mixture of compost, peat and vermiculite with some fertilizer added. Compost does not have enough nutrients alone...you need to add a little fertilizer...organic a course. Try watering them with Neptune’s Harvest fish and seaweed liquid fertilizer...you will be amazed.

[@nrgltwrkr2225]

My grandma always said, "If it's not light, and it's not water, then it's the soil nutrients...add manure and compost."

[@tomandtinadixon]

They did use compost from and organic supplier. But even the best supplier can still have issues they don't even realize.

[@qik3300]

Add worm castings. Compost without worms is just compost. Compost with worms = more worm castings. Too much nitrogen invites aphids. "container soils" always gravitate toward inert cardboard texture over time it's always a constant battle to keep it rich and organic humus. The worms are the secret to doing that

[@nrgltwrkr2225]

@@qik3300 Good point! Grandma didn't know about worm castings, but for containers, they are a must! 👍🙂

[@suzannegilliam-j1r]

I have found in new raised beds I have to add nutrients and worm castings. I mix it in well before I plant. After they get their true leaves I fertilize again. In between that I water with water soluble fertilizer.

[@nrgltwrkr2225]

@@suzannegilliam-j1r Super!

[@LadyPeter]

RE: inconsistent yellowish growth between beds: I’ve seen this blotchy growth problem in my own garden with too much compost to soil ratios. It was fine the next year. However, since you’ve eliminated the over-watering potential, you may want to consider compost contaminated with a persistent herbicide. You probably already know about the possibility that nitrogen could be tied up by incomplete composting or not enough nitrogen added to the pile at the beginning of the process. Furthermore, compost can look fully composted in color and texture while still not completely composted. The reduction in temps does not necessarily mean the compost is completed. Not enough or too much moisture both will stop the compost process. If the outside of that huge pile of compost you had last year got too dry (or wet) when stored, there is a good chance the exterior of that pile did not finish composting until you started watering this spring. All these possibilities will manifest in “blotchy” growth patterns depending upon the location of the issue. A potential solution could be Jadam’s JMS which only takes two to three days to make at home from ingredients you likely already have on hand. Heavier applications to the soil won’t harm your plants but will provide more microbes to help roots access the already available nutrients in the compost.

[@C3Voyage]

Consider your compost may not be finished. Most "compost companies" aren't. IIRC, your beds are 100% compost so that may be an issue especially if the levels in the beds are dropping due to further decomposition of organic material. If so, you can toss in a good bit of Nitrogen which is being depleted by the compost. You could test one bed with a few days application without damaging anything. If the plants pop, that's your issue--unfinished compost.

[@beckyisabell4324]

Thanks for your research it will help all of us.

[@amandasanchez6160]

I got the same compost from the same company but I amended it with bone and blood meal and organic fertilizer and things are doing well.

[@belieftransformation]

Wonderful tour of the beautiful gardens; thanks for sharing! Blessings to all 🤗🇨🇦

[@debraknapp1577]

Thankful your Dad is doing better ! I know it won't take long to get your plants back on track ❤

[@tesshomestead8019]

Put a shade cloth over your beans it should help

[@christinefreche1115]

I am from FL in zone 10a and I am using the same raised garden beds. I found the same thing that plants seem to grow at different paces from the same seeds. I started giving organic fertilizer bi-weekly and the weather warmed, the garden took off. It is a learning curve for sure. Good luck.

[@Jessecraft1954]

You have a beautiful homestead. It is interesting watching shows with families. I'm an orphan and families are foreign to me. The only people in my life are strangers.

[@SarahWells-b6q]

You guys are wonderful! Thank you for your videos! I learn so much from watching you both - you have great technique and work/speak together very well. Its refreshing and appreciated. I am eager as you are to learn about your soil challenges. Looking forward to the next video.

[@jamesnussbaum1265]

Even though the soil in the raised beds is compost that process can deplete the mix of nitrogen. Depending on the base components the micro nutrients can vary greatly even in the same bed, if the compost was not mixed often enough the mix can have great variation. Soil test should show what is lacking. Some complete fertilizer while waiting on test results will not hurt.

[@beckydealba8286]

This looks exactly like my raised beds last summer when I moved houses and started from scratch. Some things did well, a lot of things were yellow and didn’t grow. I was wishing I had stayed with in ground! It took several months of amending and I feel like the soil had no “life”. Things are growing mostly amazing now (one bed still slacks behind the others)! It will probably just take some amendments and time! But you guys are a step ahead with the soil testing, and the other comment about minerals is probably spot on as well. Good luck!!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

A lot of rain/ water can wash away nutrients from containers and raised beds too, keep that in mind ❤ we have gotten drenched in May here in SW KY!

[@RedDirtSteader]

I'm having the same issue with my squashes. Two plants per container, seeds from the same bag, and one may look great but the other yellowish and stunted. Kevin, love the shirt! lol

[@triciasklodowske5653]

Could it be the compost? Maybe there are some "hot" spots that are hurting the roots? Use the bright yellow party cups covered with Vasilinn and hang them around the plants. It works. I realized back on Monday that I'm ahead of my normal planting time. I'm almost done planting and I'm in northern MI!! Very happy. Thanks for sharing. God bless and protect. Praying for your dad for a full and fast recovery.

[@LynnKorte-ve4qf]

They (the county extension office) can tell you what you need to add to your soil to make it right and its quite percise

[@larryrivers2752]

Don't grow the same plants in the same soil ! The "Three Sisters" planting method works well. Figure out what your plants take out of the soil and what they put back. Rotate your crops accordingly, and you'll put in less amendments. If you have a horse or cow farm nearby ask if you can have some of their manure that's at least 1 to 1 1/2 years old, it'll work wonders ! Good luck, you've got a good start !

[@brianpalmer967]

Hello. Something I don't hear many people talking about on KZbin is oxygen availability in fresh compost. Because it is extremely bioactive, the microbes use up the available oxygen, and produce CO2, so compost pore spaces are very high in CO2, and low in oxygen. Plant roots need oxygen for metabolic processes (they "breath" oxygen just like animals do), so with fresh bioactive compost, plants struggle to grow due to lack of oxygen in the root zone. Over time, as the active decomposition process slows down, plants no longer struggle in this way.

[@karenfrankland7763]

We have some of the same issues. We make all our own compost and it gets mixed in with our native soil. We fertilize with our comfrey tea, meal worm frass, rabbit pellets and everything is mulched heavily with grass clippings. Still have some plants that are small and or yellowing. The skies are looking like Tic Tac Toe boards almost daily. The sun is closer to the earth which is causing some burning of the leaves. We've had tons of rain, cloudy days and nights still dipping into the 50's at night. Our biggest issues is that the neighbors all spray there lawns as well as spray for bugs. Less pollinators showing up even with all the flowers we have put in.

[@fionaworrell4535]

I'm glad someone mentioned the sky!! Here is like an art attack daily this year,got worse year on year over the last 4 years.

[@fionaworrell4535]

Did you use the same compost in the greenhouse as in the raised beds?

[@devrabiallas1292]

I heard the hazardous waste had been buried in st. Louis, not sure when, see jesse watters talking sbout it yesterday, and the effect to the water table south of there...just an fyi

[@ronelsteyn6677]

Paint the black irrigation pipes white with pva, it will prevent boiling hot water on the plants every time the system starts up😅

[@leannekenyoung]

Makes you wonder why they aren’t produced that way? They would need to be black to prevent algae growth in them but they could then be coated in white so that they don’t heat up by the sun.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

We only water in the morning when it’s cool

[@RB-fw4zj]

I made some terraces on a hillside and leveled them with a soil mix that contains compost. Although we’ve had lots of rain, the “imported” soil drains TOO fast. I started noticing that plants that were 99% in native soil were thriving but stuff in the deep imported soil were stunted, yellow and just not healthy looking. After some research, knowing it wasn’t too much or too little water, I narrowed it to nitrogen,magnesium and iron. Added fish emulsion and epsom salt and they are looking better.

[@michelebushnik2874]

Green house plants are looking great! So glad your Dad is recovering! Time to relax, and tend leisurely in your gardens!❤❤

[@samanthahoos9827]

Your raised bed garden looks so organized that I look forward to plants exploding in growth once fertilized. The tunnel is booming! I’m delayed (feeling) with garlic in so many beds. I definitely over planted garlic last autumn to combat pests in beds for summer plants (garlic left it’s scent keeping pests away the previous year) so several tomato plants are going to have to be planted out or given away today. 😊

[@kcs.farm09]

Good evening! Love seeing your raised beds!!

[@ronatwell5379]

My first guess is that there is not enough(if any) natural soil in those raised beds. I am not a fan of filling a container with something in a bag and trying to grow vegetables in it. I live in the Ozarks too and deal with the same rocky clay soil. When my wife was alive, we gardened big time to preserve our food for the coming winter. Adding old manure from the horse barn and chicken manure(in small quantities) was all that we did. Just seeing that closeup early in the video of your soil showed a lot of woody material. If you have ever visited a sawmill where there is a large pile of sawdust, you don't find much growing around the edges of the pile. Wood waste really messes up the PH in soil, so that could be the problem with your soil. But, I think you also may find there are nutrients missing when you do the soil test. So, raised beds may be ok if you the get soil corrected, but I am still an old fashioned gardener who likes to plow the garden and plant stuff the old fashioned way. By the way, I'm 73 and have gardened all my life (started when I was a young child because Mom & Dad made me help in the garden work).

[@jamescmathis]

I think your on the right track with the soil test. From my experience you really have to build up the soil of raised bed the first year and next year it will be better. Edit for grammar.

[@bruceleonard81]

In my metal grow beds I started with straw and dirt with some wood added. The wood such as branches under 6 inches will be a water sponge in a couple of years. I made up the compost and used chicken, rabbit, and cow manure and most things grow nicely. Can’t figure out how to grow watermelons though.

[@debbiealtman5373]

Amen

[@donnadelong2781]

The problem I have seen with a lot of compost we buy it seems to low on nitrogen to the point it even affects green beans. I plant in ground but I try to boost the nitrogen on my onions after planting so they will bush out, I feed them every couple feeds with fish emulsion I have been better good this year than I have in the past and they are fuller.

[@AZJH8374]

I hope you get your test results back soon enough!

[@Pepper5655]

Kevin your shirts crack me up, and Sarah I can always depend on your uplifting edifying scriptures on your shirts. The soil, some of the other gardening channels have had poor results with some of the so called organic bagged soil they purchased for the gardening beds for the last couple of yrs. thnx for sharing.

[@dianekilbourne5734]

Yellow solo cups ( or anything yellow, aphids apparently are attracted to the color), slather with Vaseline, put the cup upside down on a stick, toss out the cup when covered with the aphids. I don’t know if the ladybugs would be attracted to the cups also but it’s worth a try. I saw this on a You Tube video, can’t remember which channel.

[@cindy-ki8ex]

I have a problem with aphids on my asparagus. I have never had aphids on asparagus but they aren't in the rest of the garden. With all the 4ain i haven't even had to water in my raised beds. The only thing I have had to water is 8n my greens rack planters. I think you can overwinter in raised beds and I believe that is what is happening in your garden. Stop your irrigation until the beds dry out a bit.

[@kerryl4031]

I had plants dying off like yours in our greenhouse - turned out the roots were being eaten by tiny fly larvae. I dumped the compost outside where I hoped predators would kill off any remaining fungus gnats - or our high winds would blow them away. Then I washed the plants and cleaned their roots and put them in a different brand of compost - I was well rewarded as the plants really romped after that - even the ones that didn't like root disturbance. Looking forward to your test results!

[@theimperfectpantry5936]

I put in 7 raised beds. I had to buy extra compost for 2 of them and those beds looked similar to yours. Turns out I was sold compost with unfinished manure and it burned my plant roots.

[@mybelovedchaos]

It would look cool to put those crystalyx tubs in the middle of the walkway between all those vego beds. I also am struggling with aphids this year, they got into our greenhouse too.

[@journeytohealthafter60]

Then theres the sky spraying issue too! I am noticing an issue too with all the sun blocking and lack of rain suddenly. Wonder how healthy my garden food is going to actually be now 🤔. Love your new raised bed area. So clean n organized looking.

[@MisterTee2010]

I am sure all your plants will be okay. Love and God Bless.

[@lindarichardson8323]

Check your soil for excessive salts(Grayzon) in the soil.

[@m250xl]

In my experience the soil in new raised bed takes time to become “seasoned”. My raised beds tend to perform much better in the second and third season.

[@lindafromidaho2932]

In my neck of the woods (SW Idaho), yellowing plants like that are an iron deficiency and need chelated iron. Hope you figure it out soon!

[@faithevrlasting]

In terms of aphids...last year all I needed was a hard spray of water (and dawn dish soap) once of twice a day for a few days but you have to keep it up religiously.

[@jimmyjonesshipman9454]

in Kansas and weather seems to be cooler this year, My cucumbers seemed slow to get going and some I planted as a resow took off and then first seeds finally sprouted. I transplanted a lot

[@breanna-gn7ht]

we live less than an hour from you all, and we have similar issues with our garden, but my rain gauge has been showing that we have been getting sooo much rain lately. probably too much.... I am hoping that the rainy season dies down soon. Once the heat of the summer finally comes, surely everything will take off

[@MichiganMike]

well: I JUST WENT MY PLANTS, Love it

[@tabithaelliott6855]

I would check the moisture in various places in the bed. Your compost may be holding more water than you are used to. If that and your soil test doesn't solve it, check out a Logan Labs soil test for 4x more nutrients being teated and the book Intelligent Gardening. Good luck and hang in there!

[@HomesteadinginSuburbiaFL]

Your asparagus looks good. Remember, they take at keast 5 years to mature - yours look about to be 2-years old. Give them time. I would also plant more, at least 1 more crown to go between the existing plant 3-5 seeds between each existing plant.

[@teresashoot999]

We use fish emulsion on our plants. This helps fertilize and groth

[@munirgolsom5850]

Have a great day ✍️☕😯👆👍

[@davidhuffine5084]

The peppers and the cucumbers are off to a good start .

[@rogeranthony3183]

I have heard that a lot of places that sale bulk compost will lack the nutrients and fertilizer is needed. Good luck.

[@eileendonovan4597]

Hope the compost isn’t contaminated with pesticides from cows eating grass that has been sprayed. I have seen that happen to other homesteaders. I pray everything works out for you.

[@stevenwood7131]

I have been trying to figure out why my corn plants never get as tall as I remember when I first started. Soil is like a bank account if you don't amend (put money in the bank) eventually your soil will be depleted...aka broke. From what I understand, pure compost is supposed to be mixed with native soil and compost nutrients can wash through the soil fairly quickly if not covered up.

[@anitariley2681]

Wondered about that...

[@katiez5660]

I live NW of you on opposite side of Springfield. We got the same compost as you but this Spring. It had a substance in it that looked like ash but was acidic. I planted a dark green Genovese basil but it turned yellow green then we had 6-7 inches of rain and lots of wind. About a month later the basil looks good again. The Greek basil planted at the same time two feet away was always nice green.

[@gailday7566]

Since you’re planting in compost only and no soil, I’m wondering if you created some liquid fertilizer to build soil microbes that wouldn’t feed the soil, so the soil can feed the plants. I believe you can take a bucket and put a variety of plants and fish heads and whatever you find beneficial after research. Chop it all up, add water and let it sit to develop lots of microbiology activity and then water your beds. By doing this you prepare for the future while rectifying the present.

[@glendalawson150]

Me again! get yourselves a moisture meter - makes it so easy and they aren’t expensive.

[@teresawebster3498]

For last two years I have had my okra attached by Aphids. Last year I had to replant a second crop they were so bad. They are back again this year.

[@esmysyield2023]

I have seen several videos with people using metal beds like this and they are having trouble too. But other than that unless they all got their soil in the same place the common denominator are the beds.

[@eddiebarrera-ws8vu]

Sometimes when things are transplanted from green house,which has shade the leaves are greener,and when they get transplanted,they lose their green cause they are getting used to the sun rays.

[@PhilippeFernandez]

I don’t know I live in Southwest Missouri, and I have garden beds my plants. All of my plants are at least 4 feet tall like a jungle I get my compost from Ozark nursery. Also, I put my plants in the garden beds I believe it was April 30.

[@ArthurDavidson]

The soil biome is a touchy thing. 1)Even though you have good compost, you may have a carbon to nitrogen issue. When the soil bacteria, fungi and nutrients may be using up the nitrogen to consume carbon. Just by moving soll from a delivered compost to the raised beds disturbed the the biome. 2)You need to test your water. This is a major issue in the Ozarks. High pH will tie up nutrients in the soil. The problem is not carbonates, rather bicarbonates (dissolved lime in the well water). When I worked at a plant nursery in Florida, we had to acidify the water - problem solved! 3) I believe you have had some of this overwhelming rain. It can take several days for the soil to dry down. Plus you made need to do a little less watering.