I basically agree with all that has been said above. Here are a couple other things to consider. First, in the Deep South where I live, parsley is strictly a winter herb. It gets too hot for it here in the summer. Oklahoma gets really hot too, right? So, that might explain the parsley death. Second, did you dig the soil underneath your bed? Tomatoes and Peppers like a nice deeply dug bed, and your raised bed doesn't look more than six inches deep. This fall, you might try double digging your little bed and then sowing red clover in it. (If you don't know how, just say so. A lot of us can tell you how.) Allow the clover to grow all winter and then just as it begins to bloom in the spring, go out and turn it under with your spade. Two weeks later, you'll be amazed at the difference in your soil, and the clover roots will have put lots of nitrogen into it too. (This technique is called cover cropping. It's inexpensive, organic, and very effective. Try it.) Don't despair! I had rather similar results my first year with raised beds and I had MANY years of gardening experience. It just takes time to build your soil. If you do the fundamentals, you'll see a big improvement next year, and the next, and the next. It's a good idea to get a soil test since you started with bagged stuff. Look in your yellow pages for your county agriculture extension office. In my state, a soil test is $6.00. You will get a computer report that tells you how much Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, and more your soil has or needs. Why guess? In the meantime, it's a very good idea to go to your public library and check out a couple of basic books on vegetable gardening. Pay very close attention to the "boring" parts about soil preparation, compost, mulching, etc. There's no reason to learn everything the hard way! And if they have a book that is specific to Oklahoma, get that one! This is a big country and the differences in climate from one area to another can be crucial to your success. Here is a simple way to know when it's time to water. Stick your finger down into the soil to the middle knuckle. Then rub that finger together with your thumb. Feel moisture? Don't water. Check tomorrow. Feel dry or very nearly so? Time to water. Pay attention to how much time has passed since the last time and before long you'll get a good idea of how often you need to water. Oh, and if you have mushrooms growing in your soil, that's a pretty good sign that your moisture levels are high. But then, they may be only a little bit high and you just imported mushroom spores in with the straw. Keep an eye on things. Do the finger test. But don't panic.

tcamp, my NJ Citrus are getting kicked out TOMORROW! So DONE with this Winter, our minimum was only 15 F. but Feb. had persistent deep snow and March was COLD. This weekend all will begin the great exodus..., Citrus, Cycads, hardier palms (Phoenix and Livistonias). Deer devoured my "deer proof"plants this winter (Holly, Rhododendrons, etc)..., HAPPY SPRING!!!

Jagermeister, now THAT'S funny! lol Thanks, Patti- I think I'm more fun now since I don't have to watch my back all the time, I had 2 older brothers and was black and blue 'til I learned how to fight back! lol Boys. You just can't shoot 'em. Necci has toned it down some, she's better behaved these days, believe it or not. She likes company, though, because it usually means a new outfit. This old skirt she has on has been around the block, she wore it in Iowa. Her KT t-shirt went missing sometime after that, she probably left it in a bar somewhere, so I had to make her a replacement. And yeah, I think Stacy was the beginning of the little lush's slide downhill!

@Gail Please use complete sentences and for goodness sake turn the darn capslock off. There is no need for all capital letters and it is incredibly annoying (it is like you are yelling in the form of typing). Now, about your dahlias: Check the stems to see if anything is boring into it. If no evidence of holes leading in, dig that plant up during a cool time of day and check the tuber clump for rot. I am guessing that one stem has roots and the other is more attached to a rotted tuber. If a rotted tuber is found, put on a glove and pull away as much rotten part as possible. Give it a good spray with the hose and replant it and water *moderately*. It sounds like you are using a ton of compost, so I would tone that down a bit until the plant is really growing strong again. You may want to let the plant grow on in a well-drained pot for a bit before plunking it back in the ground to let it build up a good root system. Whatever you do (ground or pot), water Moderately to avoid further rotting and do not let it dry out completely to avoid stressing the plant. The third tuber might be a goner, only way to tell is to dig it up and look. All dahlias have to have a bit of crown (sprouting area where the previous season's stem was) to grow. If it doesn't have a crown, nothing will grow. If it does have a crown and isn't rotted try putting it in lightly damp potting soil and keeping it in the house where it is nice and cool for a bit until it sprouts. Then plant it back outside on a day that isn't sweltering summer heat. @Everyone else I agree with the dahlia guy that they should definitely be covered completely with soil. As long as you don't overwater, all is well. The extra soil to burst through will make for a more upright and sturdy stem that needs less staking as it will steady the plant better. If no growth after planting for a good three weeks, then sure, dump the pot out or dig up the tuber and investigate.