Trouble shooting in the home garden
Problems may involve direct injury, abnormal growth, or both. There may or may not be a remedy. Some problems may affect all vegetables, others one crop, one variety, or sometimes one or two plants. depleted soil moisture can cause wilting too, but plants will recover.
Poor or slow germination of seed: Can be several causes, like soil temperatures too low or too high, poor seeding techniques (too deep – lack of firming), maggots feeding on the seeds, birds, lack of moisture, too much moisture, soil surface becomes crusty, etc.
Generally slow or poor growth of all crops: low pH, low fertility, cool weather, lack of sunlight, poor drainage, too little/ too much moisture, poor soil structure.
Lettuce and spinach going to seed: This is normal for these crops under warm temperatures and long days. Spring and fall planting and proper variety selections are remedies.
Onion bulbs fail to reach desirable size: Wrong planting date, non-adapted variety, crowding of plants or lack of moisture, especially early in growing season.
Irregular kernel development of sweet corn ears: May be due to inadequate pollination. Planting sweet corn in blocks of several short rows rather than in long single rows may help.
Sun-burning (greening) of potato tubers: Lack of covering over developing potatoes is a common cause. Hilling soil along row as a plant grows helps to keep tubers covered.
Garden peas cease flowering: A natural occurrence when summer temperatures arrive. Peas perform best when planted in the spring or fall.
Off-shaped cucumbers (crooked, nubbins, etc.): Often due to a shortage of soil moisture. Cool temperatures at time flowers are developing can be a cause. Poor pollination due to lack of bees or low number of male flowers is another possibility.