Gardening help - Tomatoes & Walnut Trees

Robin
by Robin
We have slightly raised flower beds close to the house and walnut trees at the back of the yard. Our first couple years our tomatoes were great...and even though we add compost and fresh dirt we are still struggling...help!?

  6 answers
  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 28, 2018

    Tomatoes like acidic soil and extra calcium. Do they get enough light and water? In what way are they struggling?

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    • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Apr 01, 2018

      Any garden place, even walmart, home depot, etc. should have the sterilized manure that won't smell.

  • Beth Gramling Beth Gramling on Feb 28, 2018

    Tomatoes often 'need' a fresh place to start. Try some bagged garden soil in a new spot with lots of sun and see if that works. After a rest plants may volunteer. I was told that Walnut trees have strong leaves that unless you rake often will not allow growth of other plants.

  • Dianacirce70 Dianacirce70 on Feb 28, 2018

    Check your soil ph, and alternate where you plant, if you can. Add crushed egg shell and coffee grounds to the soil

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    • Robin Robin on Apr 01, 2018

      I will totally second that!! Outside, sun, fresh air and dirt. That is life at its best!

  • Dfm Dfm on Feb 28, 2018

    Get them away from the walnut tree and it’s root ball. Walnut trees ...the roots secrete a substance to kill invaders on their territory. The roots base is 3 times as large of the trees canopy. Tomatoe plants need to be rotated as to where they are placed for growing. If at the west end of the garden this year, plant on the east end next year. Growing above ground.. 6 to 8 hrs sun and no need to rotate. Tomatoe need about a table spoon of Epsom salt, and about. 1/4 cup or so lime.epsom salt has magnesium to help set the flowers to be pollinated, lime is calcium it prevents end blossom rot.

    Speaking of pollinators...they are short in supply at my place. I need to hand pollinate my tomatoes not a hard job just a bit time consuming. Some times you can just shake the plants, other times you need to use a soft artist brush Gather pollen from one plant one put on the next.

  • Jenn Jenn on Feb 28, 2018

    Dfm is correct, walnut trees make juglone, which prevents new plants from growing and stunts and kills existing ones if they are within reach of the roots. Your best bet for growing veggies is to build a few raised beds that are elevated a few inches off the ground, that way the roots have no way to grow into and effect the plants growing in them.

  • Robin Robin on Mar 15, 2018

    Thanks to all the suggestions - hoping to post great tomato plant pictures on Instagram this summer...we are caprisanddungarees