[Sarajevo]

Here is my problem -
Tomato plants.
I've grown them in the hoophouse, but they didn't fruit well. I've grown them in pots with manure, and they look like they are affected by herbicide's. I planted them in pots with fresh soil (no amendments, no fertilizers), and they still act as if they are affected by herbicides. The leaves are stunted, curled, and chlorotic. We have some blooms, but no fruit.

I've went to the local Ag Extension office for bags to send in soil samples, but the samples won't cover pesticides, petroleum, or other pathogens.

Any idea's?

[greeneyes]

I don't know really, but I had good success growing them in Mel's mix and 2-5 gallon garden pots. I put a banana peel, crushed eggs, fish meal, and a handful of slow release fertilizer in the bottom 2 inches before adding more of the soiless mix and the tomato transplant.

After the harvest. I dump the mix with new compost into the area where I will be planting winter wheat which is sown with clover in late winter. Plow that under after wheat harvest, and plant some bush beans.

[Nepeta]

I've grown them in the hoophouse, but they didn't fruit well.

Regarding fruit set--for the first time this year, I intentionally "shook" the branches that had blossoms on them to encourage the transfer of pollen. I've read that some people use electric toothbrushes to accomplish the same thing. In any case, my tomatoes set a lot of fruit! (Fruit set sprays only work in lower-temperatures--when it is warm, they do not enhance fruit-set).

Hope this helps. Perhaps the hoophouse cut down on any breezes/insect pollinators.