Why aren’t my Vegetables Producing?
My tomatoes look healthy but have few flowers and the fruit is slow to ripen. Scarlet runners are producing very few beans. Radish and spinach have bolted, corn cobs are stunted, and courgettes wither at about 5cm long. Carrots and turnips are thriving. I’m watering regularly with soak hoses, so it’s not lack of water. What’s going wrong?
You are not alone! Many gardeners have experienced poor vegetable production this summer. This season has been particularly tough for both commercial growers and home gardeners due to a challenging spring with heavy rain, low temperatures, and strong winds. Conditions only started to improve in February.
Cloudy skies, high winds, and extreme temperatures have all contributed to poor fruit and vegetable set. While plants may appear healthy, they often produce fewer mature vegetables than expected.
There is no simple solution except to continue planting and hope for more stable summer conditions. Regular watering in the cooler parts of the day and light applications of Daltons Goldcote Vegetable & Herb Fertiliser will help keep plants healthy.
If your garden is exposed to strong winds, consider installing additional artificial windbreaks to protect delicate crops and improve growing conditions.
