Why can't I grow anything?????

I'm a complete failure in the garden and I don't know why. I have fruit trees which I planted in December 2015. The 'Annie' apple tree had 3 apples last year - none this year. The William pear tree had 3 (dry and powdery) pears last year - none at all this year. The neighbours have apple and pear trees covered with fruit, so pollenation shouldn't be an issue. The dog wee'd on the Bramley and killed it. But my Golden Delicious is covered in small apples and so is my Victoria plum tree, laden with plums. The Stella Cherry tree had a few cherries which the birds loved but the end of each branch has leaves all curled up and covered with black and green flies, despite spraying. I plant onions in a vegetable patch and never see them again. The cabbages have all grown spindly. The lettuces too are spindly and the leaves very thin. The rocket just disappeared. I seem to have carrots, judging by the carrot tops, and I seem to be able to grow tomatoes! But the lemon and orange trees in pots on the patio, in full sun, have no fruit. I feed, water, use good compost - all for nothing. Even last year's courgettes just disappeared - and they're supposed to be really easy to grow. Do I just give up?

 

NO Cheryl . Don't give up on something that will be very rewarding one day

Its all learning, gaining experience, etc., and in a partnership with mother nature she often dictates what happens

Forget the apples and pears....they need time to settle. Better not to get big crops early cos the trees themselves can then concentrate on making sturdy growth in preparation for yields to come. I would say if you have prepared the planting well, and maintain watering and feeding as well as mulching all will be well.

An unusual summer too....very hot and dry.....making veg growing more difficult. In autumn get some bulky organic matter in the soil and you should get better results next year.

Look at the positives....tomatoes and hopefully carrots will do well this year

For me, growing stuff is all about improving the soil, a job for autumn and winter. This will pay dividends later. I would also read up on what various crops need. Not everything likes the same treatment or conditions.

Gardening is such therapy too Cheryl.

 

Don't overthink anything, just use plain commonsense and try to get into "feeling with" the plants. Plants don't like to be fussed over but they do need certain things, which eventually, instinctively, you'll "feel" they need. Don't panic, don't worry, take your time and eventually it'll all come right.

 

With apple trees, when I had them, I used to put a ring of farmyard manure around them in the autumn each year and every Spring mow what was left into the grass. Eventually I had so many apples that the branches used to break and neighbours would implore me not to leave bags of apples at their back door. True!

 

You must be doing something right - my Czar plum tree has very few fruit - which are instantly snaffled by squirrels.

No mention of flowers in your post - plant a few up and enjoy the colour - I'm useless at propagation and growing vegetables - but this year I've set aside a modest veg patch in the garden for another go - not in the line of sight of the patio - so if things go pear shaped (pun intended) - then I don't have to give it too much thought.

 

I’m probably too impatient! Many thanks for the replies - will persevere.

 

......and enjoy the process

 

Gardening is like a war , you win some battles, you loose some battles but its all good as long as your on the winning side come the end of the season .

 

Hi Cheryl Felix,

You are doing everything right and have also spotted the weak point i.e. being too impatient. Fruit trees need a decade or so to show their true colours, just keep on nurturing them and wait. Unless you are a professional growing them for fruit to sell or feed your family it's best just to wait and let the trees find their own way. It will take time so in the meanwhile you might want to grow some quick satisfaction plants, such as raspberries.

Disappearing plants sound like slug or snail damage. The blooming blighters can erase a full row of young plants overnight

Don't give up, don't stress too much and enjoy the time spent in your garden. Even if everything fails to meet your expectations you will have provided greenery for the birds, bees, insects and ... erm.. the slugs... which are part of the food chain (the most positive way I can think of describing them ) Not a bad thing in today's world.