Expert: Richard Clark - 4/14/2002

Question
WE ARE TRYING TO PLANT A GARDEN THIS YEAR. WE HAVE USED THIS AREA EVERY YEAR.MY DAD ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF THE GARDEN.  HE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD TURN OUT.HUGE TOMATOES,CABBAGE,CUCUMBERS ETC.
HE HAD A STROKE A FEW YEARS BACK AND NOW IS IN A NURSING HOME.
WE HAVE TRIED TO GROW THE SAME QUAILTY OF VEGGIES JUST NOT WORKING.THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
1. I TILL THE GARDEN
2. I TILL 7 DAYS LATER  
3. SPRAY WITH TOTAL VEGGIE KILL
4. WAIT 2 WEEKS TILL AGAIN AND ADD FERTILIZER (10-10-10) AND ADD ( EXPANDABLE POLYSTENE BEADS) PREEN.
5. IN A FEW DAYS WE START TO PLANT.
6. THROUGH OUT THE YEAR I RUN A WEED EATER TILLER AROUND THE PLANTS AND ADD MIRACLE GROW.
ARE WE DOING SOMETHING WRONG WE ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME RESULTS MY DAD DID.CAN YOU GIVE US SOME ADVICE?


Answer
Roy;
It is too late to say 'help your Dad in the garden' to see what he was doing. The only thing I see you might be doing wrong is number six(6). While tilling around the plants you could be cutting off the feeder roots. Try pulling the weeds that are within a foot of the plant instead. Other than that it looks like you are doing things right.
Richard