How to Prevent Too Much Leaf Growth on Vegetables



If you have the problem of all leaf and no flowers or fruiting on vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and potatoes, it might be that your soil has too much nitrogen content. Here is how to restore the balance.

Steps

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    Avoid adding any fertilisers with a high nitrogen content. This includes avoiding use of high-nitrogen mulch such as animal manure and grass clippings.
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    Apply a fertiliser that is rich in phosphorous and potassium and low in nitrogen. Try bone meal as one option.
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    Prefer carbon-rich mulch. Good choices include crushed bark, sawdust, straw, or newspaper. In breaking down, these mulch sources will help the growth of soil microorganisms that feed on nitrogen and will consume it until the decomposition of the mulch ends.
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    Plant squash as a plant balance. Squash has an ability to mop up high levels of nitrogen in the soil, over a few weeks.

Things You'll Need

  • Non-nitrogen fertiliser
  • Carbon-rich mulch
  • Squash

Article Info

Categories: Growing Vegetables