In which I reflect on the pros and cons of... fertilizer.

I REALLY need to get my hands on some good nutritive fertilizer.  I've noticed a few of my crops are really suffering from lack of it.  Since my raised beds are resting on gravel, not soil, I wonder how easily the nutritive compounds in the organic compost soil I bought and settled months ago have since washed out through the bottom.  This is evidenced by:

• Carrots: are still teeny tiny shoots that have since turned a strange purple color.  Will replant and hopefully salvage a few.
• Peas: are very, very sad.  I have one plant from that initial sow that is still hanging on, but barely.  It hasn't grown any taller since my last post.  I started a few more from seed, but they really need a boost if I'm going to have peas this spring, especially now that we're hitting 90 degrees some days.
• Beets: just one little solitary sprout (I planted a row of them) and he's still very puny.
• Peppers: the habanero is doing great.  The poblano is losing leaves, but there's new growth at the top. 
• Crook neck squash: outer leaves are shriveling up, but there are blossoms and new growth in the center.  Blarg.

I've heard fish emulsion and seaweed emulsion are stellar fertilizers.  I did recently try used coffee grounds on a few of the plants that I read need slightly acidic soil, like the potatoes.  I'm also trying to get my compost going.  I really need to figure this out before the rest of my food turns purple, dries up, and dies.

Positives?  I planted radishes, like, a minute ago, on a whim, and they're kicking ass.  Awesome filler crop; you can plant rows of them in between rows of other things, and they'll just grow and grow and grow.  I'm going to have radishes soon! 

Also, the potato experiment is going well, I think.  There is foliage above the soil and it continues to get taller.  I have to wait until the foliage flowers, and can harvest after they finish flowering.  As I've never grown potatoes, I'm cautiously optimistic.  I still think they're weird.

Probably the crop I'm most excited about is okra.  All of the seeds I planted sprouted, and after thinning them out the remaining seedlings are going strong.  Okra's a warm-weather crop, so it can only do well from here out, I hope!