Why is my garden very light green verses dark green?

Question

This is our first year with a garden. It seems to be growing but not as big as it should be by now. The color is not a bright green like healthy plants should be. We planted ours the same time as a neighbor and his is twice the size of ours and a dark green color. We have tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, carrots, peppers (different kinds).

Answer 1

Did you amend your soil so it’s foamy – not too compact but not too sandy? (You should be able to squish the soil in your hand and it sticks together before crumbling apart.) Did you dig deep enough? Tomatoes have tap roots that go down over a foot. Did you fertilize? Do you water it every day? (We’re supposed to water twice on excessively hot days, but we can’t and our veggies are fine anyway.) Do you water it in the morning or evening, so the sun won’t burn the leaves from the water on them?

You know, once we learn how to garden and our garden looks pretty, there’s nothing better than someone seeing it and asking, “How did you do that?” You’ve got your expert right next to you. Any chance you’ve ever noticed what he brings out to drink when he’s about to garden? I bet you could develop a good friendship and easy expert advice, just by taking over a big cold glass of whatever-he’s-drinking, and ask. Add bonus – the exchange of garden recipes. 😉

(If you’re too shy, try adding Miracle-gro to your watering regment every other week. I know, some think it’s evil, but most of us use it for a reason. It works.)