Question
Is there a fertilizer available that has no or a just a small amount of nitrogen yet does have phosphorus and potassium? I have chickens and have put their droppings in my compost bin and used it in the garden so I am sure that there is plenty of nitrogen in the soil already plus the fact that my bell pepper plants and my tomato plants get between 5 and 6 feet tall( the same plants that I have always planted and are usually only 3-4 feet tall) but do not produce hardly any fruit,this shows me that I need something else. From what I have been reading it sounds like the phosphorus and potassium could be the answer. Any help you can give me to solve this problem will be appreciated.

Answer
Hi,

Phosphorus deficiency is dull green leaves with purplish tints, stunted growth. Potassium deficiency is loss in color particularly in the vein structure, brown spotted on the underside of leaves, short and stocky plants.  Check your plants to see if there are signs of this.

Also, depending on how much manure you add to your soil you may have an excess of nitrogen which can also harm plants so they do not produce well. Signs of excessive nitrogen are plants grows really fast but are spindly and plants do not produce any flowers.

Phosphorus promotes seed germination, fruit growth, flowering and healthy roots.  Sources I have used are bone meal, rock phosphate, animal manure (ie horse), fish emulsion.  I recommend adding 2.5 pounds per 100 square feet and then to maintain good phosphorus add 1 pound per 100 square feet every year after.

Potassium or also known as Potash promotes young leaves and buds, root growth and seed production and it improves the flavor of fruit and vegetables.  Sources are potash rock, wood ash, greensand. I recommend adding 5 lbs per 100 sq feet and then to maintain it add 2.5 lbs per 100 sq feet every year.

If you feel you may have too much nitrogen in your soil mix more brown matter such as straw, hay or wood chips into your compost that way your compost will be more balanced.

I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any further questions.

Happy gardening
Catherine Abbott
www.your-vegetable-gardening-helper.com