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This may be better suited for the home improvement forum, I'm not sure. If a mod feels so, please move it.
I started some raised planters a few weeks back. both are 3'x3' and I'm growing in 1'x1' squares. The boxes were set up with drain holes in the bottom, 1-2" of rock to aid drainage and then 12-14" of soil. The soil mixture is approx 1/3 each of the following:
top soil
mushroom compost
humus and manure mix
This is the same mix that I started the following seedlings in:
Cherry Tomatoes
"Regular" tomatoes (don't remember the variety)
Bell Peppers
Onions
Zucchini
Cucumbers
In one box I have my zucchini, cucumbers and onions. In the other box I have the tomatoes and bell peppers. The first issue I am running into are yellow spots on the leaves of my zucchini, some are developing brown spots. My cucumbers, I noticed that several of the plants developed a brown spot towards the center of the leaf, then the leaf turned yellow.
I first noticed some small bugs on the leaves of the zucchini, they didn't look like squash bugs, they were small long and narrow. I want to keep this all organic, so I sought some organic methods of pest control. I found that marigolds are good for deterring insects so I planted one marigold in the center of each planter to help ward off insects, and I also dusted with diotomaceous earth to help kill the critters that were there.
Now to my latest concern. I am not sure if the yellow/brown spots on my zucchini leaves were caused by the insects or if it is some kind of fungus. I typically water twice a day, in the morning and then in the evening when I get home. I don't drench the bed, as soon as I see a little water puddling, I stop. I've been meaning to set up a drip irrigation system, but this hasn't happened yet, so I am watering from the shower setting on the hose nozzle. I wouldn't think that it is being over watered unless I mixed in too much top soil and it is holding more water than I want. Sorry if this is really long, I tried to have a little foresight and provide any pertinent information that I could think might be needed. I've attached some pictures of the beds before the vegetables were transplanted. I will get some pictures of the plants posted tomorrow.
I started some raised planters a few weeks back. both are 3'x3' and I'm growing in 1'x1' squares. The boxes were set up with drain holes in the bottom, 1-2" of rock to aid drainage and then 12-14" of soil. The soil mixture is approx 1/3 each of the following:
top soil
mushroom compost
humus and manure mix
This is the same mix that I started the following seedlings in:
Cherry Tomatoes
"Regular" tomatoes (don't remember the variety)
Bell Peppers
Onions
Zucchini
Cucumbers
In one box I have my zucchini, cucumbers and onions. In the other box I have the tomatoes and bell peppers. The first issue I am running into are yellow spots on the leaves of my zucchini, some are developing brown spots. My cucumbers, I noticed that several of the plants developed a brown spot towards the center of the leaf, then the leaf turned yellow.
I first noticed some small bugs on the leaves of the zucchini, they didn't look like squash bugs, they were small long and narrow. I want to keep this all organic, so I sought some organic methods of pest control. I found that marigolds are good for deterring insects so I planted one marigold in the center of each planter to help ward off insects, and I also dusted with diotomaceous earth to help kill the critters that were there.
Now to my latest concern. I am not sure if the yellow/brown spots on my zucchini leaves were caused by the insects or if it is some kind of fungus. I typically water twice a day, in the morning and then in the evening when I get home. I don't drench the bed, as soon as I see a little water puddling, I stop. I've been meaning to set up a drip irrigation system, but this hasn't happened yet, so I am watering from the shower setting on the hose nozzle. I wouldn't think that it is being over watered unless I mixed in too much top soil and it is holding more water than I want. Sorry if this is really long, I tried to have a little foresight and provide any pertinent information that I could think might be needed. I've attached some pictures of the beds before the vegetables were transplanted. I will get some pictures of the plants posted tomorrow.
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