yellow leaves in my first veggie project

[teacherbird]

Hi All
I have been nagging my other half for ages to build me a raised bed. It was finally built last month and my neighbour very kindly gave me some veggie plants from his greenhouse. i have looked after them carefully, making sure they don't dry out.

The problem is that the peas, courgette and aubergine (but the peas especially) have all developed yellow leaves at the base of the plant. In fact, they seem more like they have totally dried out whilst the top of the plant seems ok. I am really upset by this as this is my first go at growing vegetables and it looks like I am failing miserably not less than 3 weeks in! I can't ask my neighbour for advice as they are away for a while.

Any advice to help rescue my liitle plants would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks

[Hammer]

Hello teacherbird,
Can you tell us a bit more about the problem ( a photo or two would be great) it could be any one of a number of things: if it is affecting all your veg it sounds as if it is either a pest, maybe Spider mites or it could be Fungal. Examine the underside of the leaves and give as much info as you can.
Regards Hammer

[vegetable-gardener]

Are you overwatering or maybe under watering?
Have you added any fertilizer or manure?
And were the plants hardened off before you planted them out?

[teacherbird]

Hopefully you will find a photo attached!
I am a total novice at this: the box was built last month, top soil from freecycle a week later (no manure I am afraid) then plants from my neighbours green house - peas, courgette, tomatos, red pepper and broad beans.

I have planted beetroot, spinach and carrot seeds too.

Do you think i should get rid of my pea plants or is there any hope?

Also, I have had conflicting advice about the beetroot which have germinated. I planted the seeds in groups of 3 and 4 so that when they are ready I can pull them out as a clump. However, another friend has said I should thin them out to one per station. What do you think?

Should I be feeding the plants yet? I have tomorite at the ready :-)

[teacherbird]

Hopefully you will find a photo attached!
I am a total novice at this: the box was built last month, top soil from freecycle a week later (no manure I am afraid) then plants from my neighbours green house - peas, courgette, tomatos, red pepper and broad beans.

I have planted beetroot, spinach and carrot seeds too.

Do you think i should get rid of my pea plants or is there any hope?

Also, I have had conflicting advice about the beetroot which have germinated. I planted the seeds in groups of 3 and 4 so that when they are ready I can pull them out as a clump. However, another friend has said I should thin them out to one per station. What do you think?

Should I be feeding the plants yet? I have tomorite at the ready :-)

[tommyq1976]

Hi teacherbird,

I wouldn't be too worried about those peas if I were you, the tops look good and healthy, I found a simmilar thing last year (my first try) and I got some good-ish pods from the plants eventually. Don't get rid of them, where there's green there's hope! You should see some flowers coming up soon with the plants being the size they are... flowers become pods, become dinner! :P

I'd definitely feed all your plants now, the veggies and flowers in my garden have had their third feed by now and they'll be getting their fourth on Thursday (I'm giving them miracle gro once a fortnight) and I'm really seeing the benefit.

I plant beetroot singly and it works well, I've got 10 up the allotment spaced about
4in apart.
It's all trial and error when you first start out, if at first you lose some plants, give them another bash and learn from last year's mistakes