Tips for my raised garden

You didn't mention how deep you have your raised bed, only that it is 16x4. The depth of the mixture you have on top of your clay soil may not be sufficient to supply all the nutrients your plants will need.

My raised bed for root crops is 12x4x1 ft. deep and I tilled the clay based soil to 8 inches deep where the raised bed was going to be placed. Then I filled it with a good garden soil I got from a local soil/mulch supplier and turned it under to mix in some of the clay based soil.

Well frick me, I was almost certain the deep soil below my raised bed was too acidic. Backyard full of pine trees and red clay soil, I assumed acidic. My tomatoes and cucumbers struggle the bigger they get and cukes some years are bitter. I use that raised bed soil from Lowe’s but my plants start great that first month and I usually water 2-3 times a week but not too too much.

Everyone I know telling me they bet it’s acidic but just checked and it’s 6 on ph scale. I even just got some lime today to throw in. Even fertility test was good. I use MG fertilizer when I put plants in ground. To add, I only tested deep in my raised garden from last year, to the red clay.

So now I’m sitting here with a bag of lime still wanting to add it

ETA: Well I tested my top 3-4 inches from stuff I’ve put in over the years and it registered 2 Last year I mostly just added cow manure and very little soil due to some bad advice and being told I already have enough soil there.

I’ve had pretty good success with tomatoes. I grow them in galvanized steel cattle troughs. I drilled holes in the bottom for drainage.

I have complete control over the soil. I mixed about 70% garden soil, 10% manure, 10% peat moss, 10% miracle grow vegetable soil. I also threw a tub of earthworms in each trough.

I’ve grown many varieties of hybrids as well as heirloom. I’ll usually grow some cherries on the patio in pots. I fertilize w liquid tomato food (Miracle Grow) pretty heavily, and sevin dust about once a week.