hi. i am new to organic gardening. my dad and i just built a 20x7 raised bed. we layered newspaper, ashes, compost, red wigglers and aged horse manure. we then planted tomatoes, jalepenos, then seeds from pumpkins, watermelon, cantalope, zucchini, beans, and peas. we have a small compost bin where we keep the kitchen compost scraps and we have a small red wiggler and nightcrawler bed so we can use the vermicompost around the plants and add extra worms to the garden when available. my problem is that i think the garden is nutrient deficent because my plants look light green and the bottom leaves on my tomatoes and watermelons are yellow. all the plants look like they have stopped progressing and or stopped growing. i added "worm tea" to all the plants and they look alittle better. i will also add worm compost to the base of all the plants in hopes that this will solve my plants problems. can anyone tell me what i am doing wrong? any advice would be helpful. thanks.

Welcome to the better, organic way of life!
I am not an expert on this sort of thing, but I wonder: How long ago did you put down the newspaper, how much, did you lay it flat or crumple it up? Was it the New York Times? <g>
What you did there sounds somewhat like lasagna layering, alternating each: layers of newspaper (not flat, but crumpled pages) then a layer of compost then mulch then newspaper then compost then mulch etc. I think you are supposed to wait a while before planting, giving time for the paper to break down.
The compost from the tumbler, is it aged enough? With what materials did you make the raised beds? Stone? Wood? Nothing, just sloped sides?
What is the source of the ashes? These things may be helpful in determining what you need. Then, you might want to post this inquiry in the fruits, vegetables forum. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/viewfor ... 3244ccbebc
When you do, private message me to let me know, if you would. Thanks! Happy gardening!