Raspberry plant leaves yellowed around their edges

Raspberry nutrient deficiency

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Thursday, 11 April 2019 at 12:14 pm

Learn how to identify and treat nutrient deficiency in your raspberry plants.

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For plants to successfully grow, flower and fruit they need nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and different trace elements. Without one or more of these, plants will start to display physiological symptoms – low nitrogen causes weak, yellow leaves, while a potassium deficiency results in poor harvests and discoloured foliage. Trace elements include manganese and iron, and it's deficiencies of these that are most frequently encountered, resulting in yellow leaves and brown edges.

Symptoms

In summer, raspberries fail to thrive, the crop is poor and the leaves have a general unhealthy look.

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raspberries

Organic

Pelleted poultry manure gives a quick boost of nitrogen, while organic compost gives a longer-term solution. Add bonemeal if your raspberries are short of phosphorous. In general, if you've added plenty of well-rotted compost to the soil to improve moisture retention, drainage and soil structure, you're unlikely to have too many problems.

Chemical

Add sulphate of ammonia for nitrogen deficiency. Sulphate of potash cures potassium deficiency. For low phosphorous levels, apply super-phosphates. Top up manganese levels with iron chelate and use Epsom salts to tackle magnesium deficiency.

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