Thanks for your question.

Could you please take a picture of the soil report and send to us?  What was the source of nitrogen you added and how much did you add?

Looking forward to assisting you.  Thanks.

I am not sure what nitrogen I used, I am not at home but I think it was a higher nitrogen amount with phosphate and potassium. I sprinkled some on top of dirt but I did not plant any in the gardem because of previous years when they got blight and not enough nutrients. I planted all my tomatoes in 5 gallon pails, new pails and new soil from the store. But they didn’t grow in the pails either and they got blight. It’s been difficult to say the least. Thank you for your help 

Thanks for sending us a copy of your soil report.  We are almost through assessing the situation with your tomatoes but need just two more pieces of information.

1).  When you started the tomato pails this spring, where did you get the dirt?  Was it bagged soil from a gardening center, or was it soil that you took from your garden?

2).  Was the soil report you sent to us for soil from your garden in which you had previously grown tomatoes?  Or was it for soil that is now in your tomato pails?

Many thanks for your patience.

On Aug 3, 2025, at 8:16 AM, Ask Extension wrote:



Thanks for your response.  Just for clarification, the soil report you sent to me was for soil from your garden.  Correct?

Thanks



Thanks for the latest information.

I have taken the liberty of looking at some of the past questions you have submitted to us including the results of various soil tests performed.  Based upon those and your current tomato situation, these are my three thoughts:

1).  There seems to be a persistent history of things struggling to grow in your gardens.  These range from raspberries to lilies to tomatoes as well as to many other types of plants.  A common feature for most of these issues has been poor growth and/or chlorotic (yellow) leaves.

2).  The soil tests show high levels of organic matter.  I get the impression that over the years, manure may have been added to the soil.  If this manure was not sufficiently decomposed at the time it was added, it can raise the soil pH.  The pH in the soil in your veggie garden is 7.4.  While not excessive, this is above the optimal pH of 5.5 to 7.0 for growing tomatoes.   As this decomposition completes itself, soil nitrogen can be depleted.  This can cause chlorotic conditions in leaves.  This depletion can also lead to slowed growth in the tomatoes.  See:

https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-tomatoes - soil-testing,-fertilizer-and-mulch-173060

3).  I’m of the mind that your gardens and the current tomato pails are insufficient in nitrogen.  This is why there has not been good growth of things in your garden and why leaves often look chlorotic.

Moving forward I have the following suggestions:

1).  For the current tomatoes in the pails, make sure that they are getting at least six hours of direct sun ever day.  Their current locations may have to be changed.

2).  For the current tomatoes, water them well every other day.  Prune off any yellow leaves and any stems lacking flowers or developing tomatoes.  You want all the plant’s current energy going into the tomatoes now being formed.

3).  Without mentioning a specific product, look for a fertilizer with a NPK ratio of approximately 18-18-21.  Get a powder that can be dissolved in water according to the directions on the product’s label.  Apply to the pails ASAP.  Repeat in another three weeks.

4).  For 2026, consider going back to planting your tomatoes in your garden.  Do NOT add any manure or compost to this garden this year.  It already has sufficient organic matter.

5).  This fall (late September, early October), add blood meal to your garden.  It should be available at any garden center in I-Falls.  Apply it according to the directions on the label.  This will slowly release nitrogen over the winter so that in spring 2026, the soil will be ready for tomatoes and anything else.

Good luck.  Get back to us with any additional questions you might have.  For sure, check in with us at some point during spring 2026.  Thanks for using our forum.

I can’t thank you enough for helping me out on this. As you said, I have had issues for many years and everyone is tired of all my questions. My gardens used to be a good garden, everyone admired, now it isn’t worth looking at. Maybe if we can get the nitrogen taken care of, we can conquer the fungus. I will probably have to get rid of the lilies and buy more. Anyway thank you so much, you are so kind

Glad to be of assistance. Do not concern yourself about asking too many questions. Asking questions benefits both the questioner and the respondent. Both learn in the process. Good luck with your gardening adventures