This is my first year doing SFG. We prepared 2 boxes and put them in our backyard adjacent to our deck. Box #1 is on the south side and Box #2 is on the west side. Box #1 was prepared with municipal compost, manure compost from last year, mushroom compost, vermiculite and peat. Box #2 was the same except we used different brands of new manure compost and mushroom.

Box #1 is doing so-so; I planted from seed: lettuce, spinach, sugar snap peas and then onion sets. The spinach died and I only ever saw one pea pod on the peas but those seeds were from last year and we had some hot weather early on in the season. The lettuce is doing great when the rabbits aren't eating it, and the onions seem to be doing ok.

Box #2 is another story. I planted 1 roma tomato, sweet red peppers, jalepeno peppers, and various herbs, all from plants. and more onion sets. The onion sets sprouted and seem about the same relative size as the other box, but nothing else in that box has grown. Literally the plants are the same size as when I planted them 10 weeks ago. There is one tomato on my tomato plant, about 2 inches long and turning red. But the plant is only about 12 inches high and turned blackish-purple shortly after I planted it. Most of the herbs are still there but haven't gotten any larger than when I first planted them. I've tried more water, less water, and miracle grow a few weeks ago. So far no change. I have no idea what is wrong--if the plants were dying I could understand but it seems like they are still alive, just not growing. As far as I know they are getting enough sun; the only shade would be from the house/deck. The weather has been fairly cool and wet the last few weeks.

Does anyone have any ideas? Am I going to have to just scrap the whole box's worth of Mel's Mix?