Knowledgebase
Killer raised bed soil from Mirricle Grow. #870289
Asked May 27, 2024, 3:04 PM EDT
Chittenden County Vermont
Expert Response
Jeff: Thank you for contacting the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline. The photos that you attached were very helpful in showing the problems with the plants. However, I'm not sure that this is totally a soil issue, although I have some suggestions for you regarding the soil and the plants in general.
First of all, the following attachments from UVM, U Mass, and U Minnesota may be helpful in providing you with some general guidelines when planting the vegetable garden. Specifically, they mention the importance of the hardening off process before setting plants out. Plants started in a greenhouse (or indoors) need a slow (2 week) introduction to outdoor conditions, in order to get them used to the change in temperature and the effects of sunlight. If this process is skipped, the plants may get sunscald, or wind burn, and can wilt, very soon after planting. We had some very unusually hot weather last week, and if a plant was all of a sudden experiencing bright 90-degree sunlight, it may collapse. The opposite condition could be if the nighttime temperatures are too cold, the plants may also fail. Transplants should be planted on cool, cloudy days and watered thoroughly.
Another point mentioned in the information below, is that plants in peat pots need to be planted so that no part of the cup is above the ground. Otherwise, the dry exposed top of the cup may wick the moisture away from the plant.
I suspect the plants may have wilted because of the sudden exposure to the sunlight and heat, and not because of the soil conditions (but I'll talk about the soil, also).
Planting_the_Garden.pdf (uvm.edu)
https://ag.umass.edu/home-lawn-garden/fact-sheets/planting-vegetable-garden
Starting seeds indoors | UMN Extension
Planting the vegetable garden | UMN Extension
Links to the fact sheets below deal with soil for raised beds, fertilization, and the importance of having a soil test performed before adding any fertilizer.
Soil for raised beds (or any vegetable garden) should contain mineral soil, with soil additives such as compost or organic matter. Vegetables need the microminerals in garden soil, as well as organic matter, such as raised bed mix. Some raised bed mixes contain soil, as well as organic matter, and some contain some fertilizer already. The information on the bag should tell you what is in the mix. If you buy it in bulk from a garden center, they should be able to tell you what is in the mix, along with the percentages of soil to organic matter. Raised beds should not contain more than 25% compost. Too much compost (especially manure based), can raise the PH of the soil, as well as adding excessive amounts of Potassium and Potash.
Finally, fertilizers should not be added to a garden without having a soil test done first, to determine what is needed. For example, if your soil test results show an excessive amount of phosphorus, you may want to choose a fertilizer that omits phosphorus (a zero as the middle number in the Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium figures specified on fertilizer labels).
Soil to Fill Raised Beds | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)
Quick guide to fertilizing plants | UMN Extension
How_To_Take_a_Soil_Sample.pdf (uvm.edu)
I hope this information is helpful to you. Good luck with the garden!