Help with Lettuce and Brocolli for a beginner veggie gardener

Question

I am new to gardening and have just planted some lettuce, cherry tomato, strawberries and brocolli. I have used good soil, slow release fertiliser and cow manure and mushroom compost. My lettuce leaves and brocolli leaves look as though they are starting to wilt and die. The garden is in full sun for about 6 hours a day, I have been watering every morning as I am in South East QLD Australia and the soil tends to dry out quickly. I have tryed to grow lettuce b4 with no luck and need to know where I am going wrong. Am I watering at the right time of day, how often should I water and any other information and tips would be really appreciated

Answer 1

Broccoli does not like that much sun.  I would place some kind of sun shield covering over them to lessen the sun and see if that helps.  I also don't think I would add any more fertilizer.  I am no gardener, but I had no trouble growing either lettuce or broccoli, but my climate is much cooler and we get less sun.

Answer 2

lettuce and broccoli both do not like hot weather.

Answer 3

If they begin to go brown, then its because you have put on too much fertiliser, especially since you have already used cow manure as well. The cow manure would of been just fine on its own. Ah well we all have to learn, good luck with your new garden.

Answer 4

i have no idea what the weather is like in QLD Australia, but 6 hours of sun for lettuce is too much, and broccoli should be planted first thing in the spring  just before or not long after the last frost. they do better to have a cold spell before the hot weather hits them.

To help with the wilting you can put a shade screen over the lettuce. If the weather is really hot?? you can place a few ice cubes around your plants to help with the heat. I think tomatoes won't produce fruit if the weather is above 90 degrees F.