You mention your lawn was dead when you converted it to garden. Any idea what killed it? Or did you have a green lawn and just turn it under or spray it with glyphosate (glyphosate will leave no residues to harm what you have planted, but other herbicides may)? I ask because if the lawn was already dead, whatever killed it could be affecting what you have planted. Low soil nitrogen will not prevent your seeds from germinating, although after they come up it will certainly stunt their growth. The classic symptom of lack of nitrogen in a growing plant is yellowing and dying leaves on the lower parts of the plant while the top/newest leaves remain green Corn is an excellent indicator plant because the symptoms show up so clearly. Legumes such as peas and beans show much less problem because they host bacteria that will manufacture the nitrogen--if the bacteria are present on the seed or in the soils when planting. What you have described of your plants suggests a couple things to check out. First, your symptoms are consistent with herbicide damage. If it is herbicide, the wide range of seeds you have planted suggest it may be broad spectrum, soil active which may be wearing off. If this is the cause, time and heavy watering will take care of the problem. Second, the symptoms would be consistent with excess salt in the soil. Seeds often don't germinate well and die of drouth after coming up because the salt prevents the plants from absorbing water. However, I have found peas to be highly sensitive to salt compared to some of the other things you planted, so if they are doing well it may not be salt. Third, your problems are consistent with lack of moisture. Fluctuating soil moisture can result in poor germination and stunted or slow growing plants. Stick your finger into the soil going in a couple inches every day or two for a week and make sure the soil is moist all the way down. You don't want it waterlogged, but you don't want it dry. You might also take a shovel and check down 6-8 inches and make sure there is moisture there. If you water frequently for short intervals with a sprinkler, the surface could be getting wet but not soaking in deeply enough to provide the plants with what they need. I would suggest searching further for a soil testing lab. There have got to be a number of them in Calif. and Arizona with their huge ag production. The county extension service should be able to point you to a lab. Otherwise, do a search in the yellow pages for soil testing and search the net. It doesn't have to be nearby, although I think it is better if the lab serves an area with similar soils to you (warm, arid). All that is needed for a test is about a pint of soil, it can be shipped quite easily, and the basic test usually costs around $20 or less. A test will fill you in on your nitrogen levels and your salt levels. If your salt level comes back above 4 (listed as EC or mmhos), some plants will have problems, and above 6 will really cause problems. Good Luck

Well, You are more fortunate than I was drewem. When I designed my kitchen, (2005) I did not yet know about Garden Web-so- I did it completely "On my Own". I made TWO, "REALLY BIG GOOFS" Things worked out great, except for a very fancy, 36" semi circle electric cook top I bought and had installed into the granite, (at great expense too, due to the exacting cuts needed for a flush fit for the 36" semi circle). The Granite folks did a terrific job,and it looked great! They did try to get me to reconsider the cook top) but I wanted that fancy cooktop!--but wait-- There's More!!! Goof 1 In less than 2 years that fancy cook top died and the company that made it was out of business! Nobody else made a 36" semi circle cook top--so had to re do the granite!!!! Goof 2 (more related to what You "almost did") Being a "Techie" (Electronic Engineer), The same company that made that fancy cooktop made a popup down draft fan for it. The controls for the popup were built right into the cooktop, fan speed, lighting, etc. How Kewl is that?? Well, 1st I asked the cabinet guy will the popup fit OK in the granite (the cooktop is in a corner at a 45 degree angle). Cabinet guy said , no problem, I asked my handiman that was helping build the kitchen, again "No Problem". I even asked the Granite folks and receive the same reply, "No Problem"! Wife looks at the popup, she says "That Ain't gonna fit". I said I had 3 different people check it and they all say it will fit-----IT DID NOT FIT. The company that made it took it back but gave me "Pennies on the dollar for it, even though they needed it to complete another order near Seattle I shipped it there, myself! So a "Long winded way" to show the value of Garden Webb and the folks that participate here. I'm sure they would have warned me about cutting a 36" semi circle in my granite and to only have one option for a cooktop to fit "Said hole". Second they would have probably pointed out the "shortcomings" of a popout vent, There was no reason to do one, cept I thought it was Kinda "Kewl" and I knew nothing about the performance of pop up vents. Anyway all has ended well, All the other decisions made in the kitchen have been good ones, appliances, lighting, cabinets, granite, etc etc etc. Thanks to the folks on GW the story has a "Happy Ending". They introduced us to Induction, The fancy cooktop was replaced with an Elux Icon Induction Cooktop and wife Luv's it! I'm glad the folks were able to "SAve Ya" before ya made the mess I did!!!! Gary

Structurally speaking it makes no difference where the added joists are placed assuming the floor sheathing is adequate to span 16". But pay careful attention to how the new joists are supported and braced. Added joists are often sistered because it is easier to support and brace them. It's a carpenter's option. The new decking will have only a slight effect on the stiffness of the floor. It is the bottom of the joists that must be reinforced in order to reduce deflection. I still recommend cutting LVL's to fit at the 15 ft span. If you are going to his much trouble you should spend a little more for stronger members in that area to reduce bounce.

rmkitchen, love your porch. It especially looks great with brick. When I pulled in my driveway yesterday, I made a point of looking at my front porch ceiliing, which I never have before and to my amazement, it was visible from the driveway. It is white beadboard, but in vinyl so I think it will look great painted.I will probably do a very pale blue because I have to be careful with my blue shutters that it doesn't clash. memazz, you can paint the vinyl. We had our whole house painted many years ago. I didn't like the shade of green that it was and it would have been out of our budget to replace the siding. Never any peeling, has held up great. Never realized there was such an interest in blue porch ceiling or even that they existed until I read jjean's post and loved the look. Thanks!