Why Do Vegetables In My Raised Beds Are Struggling?

Do the raised beds receive at least 8 hours of sunlight daily?

Did you fertilize the soil in the raised beds before planting vegetables?

Was the weather acting unusual in your region?

Did you made raised beds to drain well?

Are there any symptoms of pests or diseases on your vegetables?

Vegetables do best in full sun – eight or more hours per day. If your vegetables aren’t growing to full size or producing as much as you think they should, lack of sun might be the reason. If you can relocate your garden into a full sun area of your yard that’s the best option. If not, focus on growing vegetables that need less sunlight like root vegetables (carrots and beets), and leafy vegetables (spinach, salad mix, cilantro, and kale).

The lack of soil nutrients is a common problem in vegetable gardens. In general, most gardeners benefit from adding a balanced organic fertilizer to their raised beds every time they plant. Even if you’ve ordered soil and installed a new garden it’s likely the soil isn’t as healthy as it should be. You can purchase fertilizer at a local garden center or online and apply it to raised beds in your garden to see if it makes a difference. Also, learn about plant-specific nutrient needs and amend the soil (if needed) before planting.

Unusual weather patterns can cause problems for vegetable plants. For example, cool nighttime temps below 60 degrees F and hot daytime temps above 85 degrees can cause tomato and pepper plants to drop their flowers. If you’ve been having hot and dry weather and haven’t had any rain recently, some of your plants might be stressed. Make sure your plants are getting one inch of water per week. Mulching your soil is highly recommended because it traps moisture and helps regulate soil temperatures.

If your raised beds stay water-logged or you’re watering too much you may have inhospitable conditions for your crops. Most vegetable crops like to dry out a bit between waterings, and some vegetables like tomatoes and squash don’t like to be soggy. When making raised beds make sure that they drain well to avoid water-logging.

Pests and diseases are some of the most common problems on vegetables. Most fungal diseases can be prevented by good watering practices (watering at the base of the plants, watering in the morning) and ensuring good airflow around your plants. Most insects can be dealt with non-residual organic pesticides like insecticidal soap or neem oil. However, if you do have a pest or disease problem, you'll have to identify the culprit before attempting to deal with it.

Choosing a variety that grows well in your climate is a very important factor in having a healthy and productive garden. If you’ve been growing the same variety year after year and have never had much success with that particular crop, it might be time to try a new one. Talk to local farmers at the market, or other gardeners in your community, to see which vegetable varieties people are having success with.