About Chlorosis & Nutrient Deficiency
If you start to see discolouration on leaves, it is almost definitely a sign that your plants are lacking in some crucial nutrients.
Yellow blotches as seen in the picture here indicate chlorosis, caused by lack of chlorophyll which in turn is caused by a lack of manganese, magnesium or iron.
You may also see a purplish tint to leaves, or a yellow or pink edge to leaves.
How to help your plants
Consider the growing conditions - if it is early spring, it may be that it is still quite chilly, or that we have strong winds which put stress on the plants. If it is midsummer, it may be that the soil is very dry. In autumn, the soil may be too wet. These conditions will need to be addressed to help the plants - a cloche to protect from cold/wind, a mulch to protect from hot dry soil and so on. Here are some ideas:
- Make sure plants have adequate water so that they can draw up the nutrients they need from the soil.
- Check that soil is not too wet/waterlogged either - too much water can damage their roots making it difficult for them to get what they need. If you are unsure, think of a bag of newly opened compost as this tends to be about the right level of moisture.
- Give your plants a liquid feed and, if you can, add a mulch as well to hep keep soil moisture levels more consistent.
- Use fleece or cloches to protect plants from cold/wind.