skip to main content

Rocky Mountain Gardening

Should i hold off on water?

11 years ago

Like I have said before- lots of vines but no flowers. 16 verities there. Would stressing them maybe help? I am open for reasons why no flowers--Temperature probably.

KennyP

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

jeremywildcat
11 years ago
That's odd - not sure withholding water would help. Too much nitrogen perhaps? Temp seems less likely since it's been pretty ideal in the 90s for a while now.
elkwc
11 years ago
Personally I would feed with something high in P. That encourages blooming and root development. I start about 4-7 days after transplanting. I've had lots of bloom and even fair fruit set during this heat. I'm one who don't use a lot of N on tomatoes. My soil is so rich it has basically more than they need to start with. There are many options. You could foliar feed them. This year I have used a liquid bonemeal 0-12-0 and add a little fish/ seaweed that is 0-0-8. This has worked well. Overall my plants have done well. Have had some disease issues. I haven't sprayed anything yet but may start on one area. Jay
Related Discussions
seeing sprouts from oversees, should i hold off on mowing?
Q
Comments (1)
You overseeded an already growing lawn....and you are enquiring whether to hold off mowing. Definitely......NOT...not mowing the already growing lawn would just add a problem to your lawn. The lawn may indeed be left to grow a little longer....never more than 3 1/2" high before cutting and the clippings left on the lawn. As long as the thatch has not built up that it is starving the soil for moisture, the added clippings will not impede growth of the new grass. If the new grass has started growing after only 10 days, I'd say within 2 weeks you should be able to get mowing at the regular height and expect that the new grass will be part of the routine.
...See More
Help, my Beaucarnia may be dying!
Q
Comments (7)
Elsie, I've only had the one, and I put it in the ground when it was but a wee stick, so pot culture (the Beaucarnia kind) is something I'll guess on.... Yes, it sounds like it was overwatered, particularly since you noted that it all seems sound, now that you had removed the bad portions. In this case, I'd water it slightly when the soil is dry, but you could also, before you water, take a look at the roots. If there's lots of warmth, sun, correct water and adequate growing room/medium this plant will grow even in the lean months (October-April) - it just won't grow as fast. Leaving one of those listed criteria out will result in an unhappy plant. In the Spring, behead your plant and ensure that the tip's kept dry - you should get at least one new, but likely multiple, new heads. They will sometimes sprout along the side of the trunk but IME it's at the top that you find the new growth.
...See More
vacationing should I shut off water at the street?
Q
Comments (5)
I would shut water off but leave hvac set a 55 or higher to prevent pipes freezing unless house is winterized. Be sure to turn water heater to pilot to prevent boiling tank dry. When you return from vacation,expect some facuet drips and inspect water heater drain to make sure it isn't leaking.
...See More
Should I re-seed and fix or hold off?
Q
Comments (42)
It's always fun to be born on third base. :-) Read below, stuff you need (not much) in bold, recommendations at the bottom. Overall, this soil is in great shape, with minimal needs. Theoretically, if you were to simply ignore it, it would be fine as even the few things that are off aren't off that badly. ME 11: A midrange soil, probably a silt. It could have a low-ME clay, it could be a sandy silt, but in your area, a sandy silt is the most probable. It's a good place to be and just about where I am at an ME of 16. pH 6.8: At the top edge of perfect, which is great. OM 5.5: Fantastic. Certainly mulch mow, mow in your fall leaves, and feed organically if you want to, but you're doing great here. Sulfur 13: A perfectly normal answer. S levels vary widely and S leaches out of the soil easily, replaced by decaying organics. S isn't used much, but it's used everywhere. 13 is just fine. Phosphorus 718: Extremely high, but not a problem. There's simply no reason to add any, so don't bother at any time. Even if you seed, you don't need it. Target levels are around 200, but more isn't a problem. If you do put in a vegetable garden, leafy greens might be a bit tough and chewy and you might want to consider putting in a raised bed to grow those. My P levels are actually higher in the flower garden (close to 1,000) to facilitate blossoming. Calcium 79%: On the high end, but not a problem. You don't need any additional calcium. Magnesium 13%: Precisely normal. It's actually pushed down a little by the very high calcium, but not by enough to matter. No magnesium is required. Potassium 2.1%: Technically within normal range...barely...but you're right, you do need some. We use potassium sulfate for this, which you can get at most local landscape stores or they'll order it for you to pick up. Try to avoid potassium chloride, it's really harsh. Recommendations below, and I'll give you all summer to track it down. Minor Elements: Boron 0.52: Slightly low, but not by enough to bother worrying about at this time. 0.70 would be the target, but grass isn't particularly boron-sensitive and won't notice the difference. Trying to adjust by 200 parts per billion is difficult enough that I'm not inclined to bother. Iron 260: Normal. There's no reason not to use Milorganite for more iron if you want, and iron isn't toxic until ridiculous levels that you'll never see (at your pH, well over 50,000 PPM), so feel free to apply Milo if you want as a feed and to green the lawn with the free iron. I do prefer to keep my iron in the 450 range, but whatever. Manganese 21: Normal. Copper 8.7: Extremely high, but not a problem. Copper confers some disease resistance, insofar as low levels will leave the plant open to diseases. This is not your problem. Sometimes, some diseases can be treated with copper extracts. I'd advise avoiding all of these on your soil. Your copper levels are already over the top. Zinc 10.6: High-ish, but certainly not an issue. Aluminum 489: Normal for a soil like this. Al is toxic, but fully bound at your pH. Recommendations: September 1: Apply 2 pounds per thousand square feet potassium sulfate. October 1: Apply 2 pounds per thousand square feet potassium sulfate. May 1, 2021: Apply 2 pounds per thousand square feet potassium sulfate.
...See More
david52 Zone 6
11 years ago
Is there a foliar spray with just phosphorous? I know you can buy some sort of Bloom Booster stuff with a 30% rate, but it still has 15% nitrogen, which it seems you already have plenty of....
digit
11 years ago
I am nearing some sort of step in this direction also, Kenny. I've used the withholding water trick at the end of the season to hurry up ripening and suppress continued growth. As we are approaching 1st frost, that works well - as long as we don't get a good rainstorm.

I suppose it might prompt flowering but I'm reluctant to use the technique at this time of year. Still, the plants have few blooms & I'm getting worried.

With 20+ varieties, they are varied in growth, appearance and what I expect out of them but almost without exception: there is little to no green fruit or blossoms. The exceptions are Thessaloniki - & I'm not sure why those plants are so small this time having opted for loading up with fruit, I guess - and the mystery tomato I was going on so much about in 2011. (The seed contaminated a packet of Early Girl seed.)

The mystery tomatoes, however, are the only ones out of 60+ plants where I'm finding some kind of foliage problems. The only ripe tomato has come from 1 of those plants and there are more in the offing! Still, I'm not happy about a repeat of the problem these things had in 2011.

I sprayed Miracle Gro bloom booster on the flower garden this year. It made an obvious difference in the strength of the snapdragon stems which have broken in strong winds, some years. Not this time . . . colors are nice, also.

Synthetic fertilizers haven't been in my veggie gardens in over a dozen years. Maybe I'll stop at the garden center tomorrow & see if they have this liquid bonemeal Jay talks about.

The tomato plants look really great out there and it would be a shame if they set a crop too late. Shame? It would be a tragedy!!

Good hot July here with 9 days above 90F so far. I know that doesn't compare with what most of the country is experiencing but it is quite a turnaround from Junuary.

Steve
colokid
Original Author
11 years ago
Up date:
Tomatoes are beginning to show in the plants. I did not know that there was any developing. I am going to get tomatoes, I just don't know how many. Still not many flowers like I normally would see. I think it is just the year. 104/60 degrees. Now that it is only about 88/98, they seem to have started to grow again. The fertilizer i used a month ago was 15/40/15 from Ace. I think I will give then another shot of it just for the heck of it. There is a lot of plants there in a small volume of dirt.
I have never had plants that big before, never! They are from 6 to 7 foot tall. The two beds are 40 inches apart and I cannot walk between them.

Related Stories

COASTAL STYLE Houzz Tour: One Beach Cottage, Hold the Cute

Beach clichés don’t pop up in this California waterfront home; refined ruggedness is the order of the day instead

LIFE Late Again? Eliminate the Things Holding You Up in the Morning

By Emily Hutchinson

If you find yourself constantly running late for appointments, work and get-togethers, these tips could help

DECLUTTERING Decluttering — Don't Let Fear Hold You Back

By Alison Hodgson

Sure, you might make a mistake when tackling a decluttering project, but that's OK. Here's why

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Urns Hold Huge Potential for Garden Decorating

By Becky Harris

Classic urns have uses far beyond holding olive oil and flowers. See how to use them as unexpected sculpture and more in the landscape

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Small Decks Hold Loads of Potential

By Becky Harris

Small slices of deck leave more room for a garden, a hot tub or a view. See how these small and even tiny decks make the most of their size

GREEN BUILDING Houzz Tour: Going Completely Off the Grid in Nova Scotia

By Mitchell Parker

Powered by sunshine and built with salvaged materials, this Canadian home is an experiment for green building practices

FURNITURE Holding Out for Quality

By Michael Cannell

Cheap furniture has its place, but more shoppers are waiting to invest for the long haul

Hanging Lightbulbs Hold Sway Over Rooms

By Katya Popova

Intriguingly industrial or with a riveting retro look, lighting fixtures with bare bulbs and exposed cords add edge to any room

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Parents-to-Be Whip Up an Apartment Overhaul, Hold the Color

By Holly Marder

Scandinavian style mixes with a minimalist palette to create a soothing, clutter-free interior for this new family's Netherlands rental

GARDENING GUIDES What's Wrong With My Plant? Leaves Often Hold the Clues

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Learn how to identify common plant ailments by reading their leaves

Sponsored

More Discussions

Ready for Spring?

19

High Country Roses greenhouse pictures

120

2024 Spring Plant Swap Offering

0

Zone 5 and colder, which roses would you buy again

19

What are these bugs on Peonies?

1