Trellis details: I started this tiered cedar trellis this spring. The boxes are lined with garden cloth with lots of large holes in the bottom in both the cloth and the box bottoms so that it drains well (evidenced by water running after I water). Soil medium is composed of 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 mixed compost, 1/3 coir (buffered). It sits on the south side at our home in the PNW.
Plant details: Mostly herbs with a handful of lettuce and arugula from seed. The arugula sprouts are turning yellow in the past week, and the parsley (last photo) are all turning yellow and purple weeks after I transplanted them. I water nearly every evening or morning, depending on if the soil seems on the drier side (i.e. I don't let it completely dry, and don't water if it is quite moist still). None of the plants seem happy, even the thyme which is yellowing as well.
I have over 60 happy houseplants and have done ground gardening with herbs, tomatoes, and other veggies successfully, but can't figure out what is wrong with this set up. Perhaps too much sun? Not enough water? 😢 Any guesses, thoughts and insights would be appreciated!
Note: I know the soil looks a little dry, photo was taken right before I watered it this morning.
by NemophilistByNature
21 Comments
What’s the texture of your soul like? It looks like it might be a bit compacted to me but it’s really hard to tell from a picture. Does your soul get “brick-like” when it dries out? Did you give it a good tilling before you planted?
Your container is not getting consistent moisture. I think you maybe watering but it’s getting drained quickly or evaporating in the sun.
You may want to try some partial shade and a more consistent watering.
Looks dry as fuck
From personal experience, herbs don’t need that much sunlight just partial. If you add some shade to it, I think it’ll be fine.
Probably bagged soil with a lack of microbes and fungi. Small containers like that need to be boosted with organic matter. Use chopped leaves as mulch & worm castings to feed that barren soil.
Garbage “soil” full of shredded wood junk.
Soil looks compacted and dry
Looks like there’s lots of wood chip thingies in there ? Add compost to enrich the soil. Mulch with grass clippings, shredded leaves, straw, that sort of thing. The plants appear to be suffering from the heat. Could be they aren’t getting enough water if the soil is too porous. Compost will help with that.
Try, try again. 🙂🌱
Another thing is that your lettuce and arugula are cooler weather crops so they will struggle and likely bolt prematurely if the weather is too hot.
A shade cloth like someone else mentioned or an area that gets less sun might help a lot.
Bad soil
What’s the weather like? You’ve got some cool weather crops going. Also maybe aerate the soil looks a little dense but hard to tell from photos. Just cuz there’s runoff doesn’t mean the soils soaking make sure it’s not just water running down the dry side crevices of doom. 🙂
First thing I was like ” why does the soil look like that?” Lol I would recommend removing that soil and getting some new organic soil and some chicken manure (and mix well) For some extra juice! Trial and error is how we learn! Looking forward to the update !
Too hot & dry, which happens when you have relatively small reservoirs of soil in full sun, unshaded by plant tops. Once the soil dries out thoroughly, it loses its capillary action and can’t absorb water anymore when you DO water. The yellow leaves could be entirely from this, but low nitrogen could also be a problem (solved by fertilizing)
Often, water runs down the insides of a container hardly touching the soil and out the drainage hole. Before planting, thoroughly break up the soil with a trowel watering at the same time until the humidity is homogeneous. I usually add a generous layer of fresh compost or composted manure at planting time.
Too much sun. The containers are too shallow for lettuce. It is a deep rooted plant. Also lettuces are cool weather plants best started in very early Spring. They can withstand snow but not heat and especially not direct sun in a shallow container. They are better grown in potato grow sacks.
Sorry. You can chalk it up to learning. Not sure what zone you are in. Rig up some shade cloth and you can start again in the Fall with plants that you start inside now from seed. Also take your soil and modify it with a bit of bonsai grit and perlite and a bit of sand. Use mesh over the drainage holes.
Best wishes for future success.
Nice planter though 😍
Great insights on sun and soil. I wanted to add a thought about nutrients. I use plant food regularly and put a banana peel in the water I use when I need to water manually.
Seedlings are babies. You have them out of the burning hot sun, with poor soil offering very little water uptake. Replant them in some potting soil so they get what they need. You can use a sun net if the future when they are this young if the sun is burning them up.
Any fertilizer?
That soil sucks
Your soil looks like it’s just wood chips. I think that’s your issue.