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Five signs of a nitrogen deficiency in garden plants

7/25/2015

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nitrogen deficiency
A nitrogen deficiency causes slow plant growth and reduced fruit production.
It's that time of year when nutrient deficiencies begin to cause problems in the garden. While most of us have given our plants a good start with starter fertilizer, many plants need supplemental fertilizer during the growing season. One of the most common nutrient deficiencies in a typical Maine garden is nitrogen. Without adequate nitrogen your plants cannot  build the nucleic acids and proteins they need for healthy growth and fruit production. A lack of nitrogen is often misdiagnosed as a lack of (or too much) water or attributed to the weather.  if your plants are looking a little pale and don't seem to be growing as they should, check them closely for these signs of a nitrogen deficiency.
  1. Old leaves turn pale green and may eventually yellow and fall from the plant. Some yellowing of old leaves is normal, but if more than a leaf or two on your plant suddenly begins to yellow it is a good indication that your plants are suffering from a nitrogen deficiency.
  2. New leaves are paler green than existing leaves and appear to be smaller than normal. Young leaves should be a rich green and should grow rapidly. If they are tiny and fail to increase in size within a few days, they may need a boost of nitrogen.
  3. Plant growth slows or stalls. This should not be confused with plants that have reached their mature size. If the plant has not reached maturity or fails to produce new leaves and branching ceases, the culprit may be a nitrogen deficiency.
  4. The underside of leaves may take on a red or purple hue. Although this depends on the type of plant you are growing, leaves that discolor on the underside may be a sign for you to add nitrogen to the soil.
  5. Wilting easily under normal weather conditions. Plants suffering from a lack of nitrogen wilt quickly at the first sign of stress. If your plants are wilting when it is not excessively hot or they are not suffering from excessive dryness, a nitrogen deficiency may be causing them to wilt under stress.
Replenishing the usable nitrogen in the soil often produces rapid results. You may notice increased growth and richer color with a few days. You can add nitrogen by adding compost, well-rotted manure, fish emulsion or commercial fertilizers.

Water-soluble fertilizers designed as foliar feeders can be mixed and sprayed onto the plants. Allow adequate amounts of fertilizer to penetrate the soil. Look for mixtures that are high in nitrogen, denoted by the first number in the formula. Always follow the directions included on the container to avoid over feeding and damaging your plants.

Note: A soil test meter is  a great investment for monitoring the pH and nutrient levels in you soil. It only takes a minute to complete the test and takes the guess work out of troubleshooting problems with your plants.



                                                                      
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  • Home
  • Garden Thyme Blog
  • Themes
    • Butterfly Gardens
    • Moon Gardens
    • Sensory Gardens
    • All About Fairies
  • Flowers
    • Annual Flowers >
      • Alyssum
      • Cosmos
      • Geraniums
      • Marigolds
      • Morning Glories
      • Nasturtiums
      • Petunias >
        • Reviving Petunias
      • Snapdragons
      • Sunflowers
      • Sweet Peas
      • Zinnias
    • Perennial Flowers >
      • Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Hortensia’)
      • Lupines
      • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
    • Maine Wildflowers
  • Veggies
    • Warm Season Vegetables >
      • Beans >
        • Growing Beans
        • Growing Pole Beans
        • How to Make a Teepee Trellis
      • About Corn >
        • Growing Corn
        • What is Baby Corn, anyway?
        • Can you grow corn in containers?
      • Cucumbers >
        • Grow a cucumber in a bottle
        • Growing Pickling Cucumbers
        • Growing cucamelons (Mexican Gherkin)
        • Why do cucumbers blossom but fail to set fruit?
        • Trellising Cucumbers
        • Making Cucumber Relish
        • Powdery Mildew on Cucumbers
      • Melons
      • Peppers >
        • Growing Peppers
      • Squash >
        • Growing Zucchini
        • Spaghetti Squash
      • Tomatoes >
        • How to Harden Off Tomato Plants
        • How (and when) to Prune Tomatoes
        • Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) for Tomatoes
        • Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes
        • Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Hanging Baskets
        • 4 Best Tomatoes for Short Seasons - Early Tomatoes
        • 5 Early Maturing Tomatoes for Short Season Gardening
        • How to Ripen Green Tomatoes
        • How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Home
        • Grow Your Own Amazing Pomato Plant - Tomatoes on the Top and Potatoes on the Bottom
    • Cool Season Vegetables >
      • Cole Crops
      • Greens >
        • How to Grow Spinach
        • How to Grow Malabar Spinach
        • How to Grow Swiss Chard
        • Harvesting and Cooking Beet Greens
        • How to Grow Microgreens
      • Onions & Garlic >
        • How to Grow Garlic
        • How to Grow Onions
      • Peas >
        • Growing Garden (shelling) Peas
        • Growing Sugar Snap Peas
      • Potatoes >
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Containers
        • How to Grow Potatoes in Hay Bales
      • Root Crops >
        • Growing Beets
        • How to Grow Carrots
  • Herbs
    • Growing Basil
    • Growing Chives
    • Growing Lavender
    • Herbal Tea Garden
    • How to Grow a Culinary Herb Garden
    • How to Grow Herbs in Sponges
    • Colonial Herb Garden - Classroom Project
    • Herbed Butter
    • Making Herbed Oils
  • Gardening Basics
    • Seed Starting Basics
    • Grafting Basics
    • Soil >
      • Starting a New Garden
      • How to Prepare Soil
      • How to Test Soil Drainage
      • What Type of Soil Do You Have
      • Soil Mix Recipe for Containers
      • How to Make Compost Tea
      • How to Use Mulch
      • Control Blister Beetles
  • Birds
    • Hummingbirds >
      • DIY Hummingbird Feeders from Recycled Bottles
      • Annuals for Hummingbird Gardens
      • Perennials for Hummingbird Gardens
    • About Birdseed
    • Choosing a Birdfeeder
  • Fiddleheads and Fairies
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • How to Marinate Roasted Vegetables