Hi cheaptrick, where are you located? maybe you added a bit too much wood? what mulch did you add in the fall?

I'm not sure I understand why you tilled in hardwood mulch into your soil when you could have used compost instead. Incorporating wood into the soil can tie up nitrogen in the soil.

Before you amend your soil any further by guessing, get your soil tested by checking with your state's Extension Service. They can provide you with soil testing information. Mine was only $9.00, less than the cost of some strictly pH tests, and far more thorough. No guessing at what might need to be added, no money wasted.

Each county should have it's own Cooperative Extension Office which provides free publications and information for the asking. They will have valuable vegetable/gardening tables available specifically for your area determined by universities and horticultural research scientists who have collected data from growing those crops in your state. Your tax dollars are already paying for this service so you may as well get some use out of it.

Also be careful when using fertilizers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Choosing a Soil Amendment

I agree with getting your soil tested.

But I think if you have clay and wood mulch in there... perhaps you are getting waterlogged?

When you get tested ask if you need to add vermiculite to improve aeration.

V.

cheaptrick,

there could be some nitrogen draw down from undecomposed wood chip if that was what you used?

for us our suggestion would be make gardening that bit easier for you convert to raised beds on top of what you currently have, no need to till ever, too easy.

see our pages for pic's and story.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: len's garden page