a terrible container year

[Ken the Chef]

This year I emptied my manure bin that was about two years old and have been mixing it about 50/50% with general seed compost to fill all containers for Tomatoes, Courgettes, Cucumber and peppers.
The Tomatoes: all started very slowly and some are so stunted; only 12 inches high while the remainder are about 3ft tall but all the growing tips are yellow, hard and again very stunted but do fill out later. The flower heads are only just forming and are not as large as I would expect. I have fed and watered as normal and given the pot a top dressing of my own compost. No fruits have formed as yet.
The Cucumbers, one just withered and died the second is planted in normal veg sack compost and is just beginning to get going.
The Courgettes, I started in pots and planted out as normal one has died off and the other is making very slow progress and has produced the smallest courgette I have ever seen; about 1 inch long but is now showing signs of developing.
The peppers; I started off in 3inch pots, the one I planted into a container is still only 5 or 6 inches tall while the other is about 12 inches tall but is still in the original pot.
I can only assume there is a problem with the manure or the % I used in the containers. Was 50/50 too rich?
I also know that there has been something reported on another forum about some manure being contaminated.
At the end of the year I would normally empty all my containers onto my raised beads as a mulch for the winter. I need advise as to whether I should do that this year.

[Two_Sheds]

Read the threads about aminopyralid Ken, see if that sounds like your problem ...

[Ken the Chef]

Sounds very much like it.
The question now is what to do with the small amount I have; about 14 30ltr tubs of 50/50 manure peat based compost used formy tomatoes etc rtc
I have used the same manure on other raised beds and they seem ok. The ratio here was about 5% manure to soil.
Thankfully I do not have any more to use but I am worried that if I go to the same stables I might get the same again.
Is it possible to have too much manure in the growing medium?

[rustylady]

I've done a bit of googling Ken, and the suggested ratio of manure to topsoil varies between 25% and 50%. However, bear in mind that this topsoil, not MPC which should contain all the nutrients your plants need, at least for six to eight weeks. As you say the manure hasn't affected your raised beds adversely, may I suggest that you used too much of it?

[Ken the Chef]

It looks as though I am within those tolerances as all my raised beds are loam topsoil, but the buckets were general seed compost.
Is it worth keeping the plants that are now growing or should I bin the lot now?
Since my last post I notice that my Blackberry new season growth [1 cane]for next year’s berries is showing some of the same symptoms, distorted growing point and tight misshaped leaves

[Welsh Wizard]

Containers are terrible. Plants this year seem far happier in the ground, especially given the extreme weather of late, baking drought spring, now piddling down rubbish summer. Container rootballs are really a poor second best to open ground plants that can develop deep roots that can really delve down and find water and nutrients whatever the weather. You only have to look at the yeilds of ground grown stuff vs container to realise that most of the time the better option is in the soil, mainly because the soil has plenty of moisture that very often a container lacks unless the owner is obsessive about watering.

[Potstubsdustbins]

It never cease's to amaze me the number of gardeners who grow, say tomatoe's very successfully in all sorts of containers, whilst others tell us its impossible.

Maybe if they took as much care over their other plants as they do over tomatoes they may have more success. I know I do.

Colin

[BroadRipple]

I agree PotsTubs...and WelshWizard, tell us more. Because I read SUCH different things about, say, growing courgettes in tubs as opposed to the ground i.e. both recommended, and have never seen anything about containers leading to smaller yields. WW, what you say makes sense, but why isn't this written about?

[SarzWix]

To get back to the point... Ken, I think you have contaminated manure - if you fruit is growing with distorted leaves too. You should be able to return the manure to the place you bought it, but there is information about this on the Allotment Advice board. As your plants are in containers, it *might* be possible to take the plants out of the pots, knock the soil off them and replant them in fresh, clean compost. It's worth a try?

[Gemmalaveen]

I have no choice but to grow in containers and with loads of TLC and plenty water I am having a terrific year... I have beans and courgettes coming out of my ears, salad veg all doing well and have been enjoying ripe toms for a week now with plenty more to go. My best purchase this year has been a moisture thermometer because with containers it is hard to tell how much to water... it's amazing how quickly they dry out!

[FIREMAN627]

just remember that any foliage that is on an infected plant can only be disposed of at your local tip in the ground fill section not in the garden waste section because this will just recycle the problem,

[Germinater]

I think half the battle with growing in containers is making sure there big enuff had problems last year with drought as I used pots that just wasnt big enuff for the Job .this year has been great So far made sure pots are the right size and watered almost everyday and everything has grown very well haven't had any casualtys .also feed mKe a massive impact on production really need to feed just as rigourously as you water ..if this is done growing in pots is just as good as the ground I have seen no real difference in production from my beds to my pots ..

[justgimmeethefaxmaam]

Only my 2nd year as a grower & I also have no choice...it's containers or nothing.
I learned from last year to use big containers & sow seeds carefully one at a time where possible...using specs..so as not to overseed.
I also paid heed to Colin.. I water, feed, water, feed & feed.
I start with seaweed weekly & move on to Tomorite twice weekly for toms,courgettes,peppers,chillies.I'm sticking with seaweed all season for the green leafy veg.
I have had great successes so far with peppers,chillies,tomatoes,courgettes,mange tout,watercress,mixed salad leaves,chard,kale,kai lan,rocket,spinach,borlotti beans,broad beans,radish,romaine lettuce,garlic to name but a few.
It's a learning curve & I'm sure I will continue to learn more about container gardening as time goes on.
My neighbour grows in the ground & raised beds & he has similar results with probably more caterpillar damage....(but that's another topic)