It will soon be planting time in the summer vegetable garden. Bet you can taste those garden-grown goodies already.

However, to assure a bountiful harvest this year, all must be right in the garden -- beginning with the soil.

Does it have the nutrients necessary to sustain the health of your plants throughout the growing season?

At least 13 elements must be present in the garden's soil to keep your vegetable plants growing and producing properly.

Don't know diddly about your dirt? A soil test can tell whether the nutrient content in your garden is up to specs. But, at this time of year, it takes time to get results back. Why not go straight to the source? Consult with the plants themselves.

No need to get down on all fours and actually speak to your greenery. Look for signs of nutrient deficiencies. Like people, plants can tell you what you need to know about their ailments if you are aware of the symptoms. Below is a general guide to some of the more common soil nutrient deficiencies in vegetables (and ornamentals).

NITROGEN. A lack of this key element results in, of course, slow plant growth. However, other signs of not enough nitrogen are leaves that turn light green and the tips of new growth becoming yellow. Also, the plants have a spindly look and drop their older leaves.

PHOSPHORUS. The symptoms of a shortage of phosphorus are stunted plant growth and small dark reddish spots on the undersides of the leaves that eventually spread. Also, such afflicted plants usually set fruit late.

POTASSIUM. A deficiency of this nutrient is usually first noticed when lower leaves of plants turn a gray-greenish tint. This discoloration usually works its way up the plant, and the off-green is replaced by a dirty yellow coloring. Naturally, the leaves die. In addition, plant stems become slim and hard, and fruit ripens unevenly. This potassium poop-out problem is usually most prevalent late in the growing season when plants use most of their available supply of this element to develop fruit.

MAGNESIUM. Insufficient magnesium will become apparent on the lower leaves of plants first. Mature leaves will hold their dark green coloring except in the areas between veins, which will become yellow. Eventually, the leaves will turn upward and become brittle. This problem is most common late in the growing season on vegetable plants with developing fruit.

CALCIUM. Leaves that suffer from calcium deficiency are normal in size, but the newer, upper leaves are the first to show signs that something is wrong. These young leaves will turn dark green and may even begin to curl. This green is usually replaced by yellow, which starts on the edges and spreads. While these leaves dry up and fall, the lower leaves of the plants remain relatively normal. Eventually, the whole plant becomes weak and wilts.

Blossom end rot on the fruits of eggplants, peppers and tomatoes is also a sign of this problem.

ZINC. Plants have smaller than normal terminal leaves, and other leaves are pocked with yellow areas that may also include dead tissue spots.

IRON. Young leaves begin to turn yellow between the veins. While the yellowing will spread, the veins, margins and tips of the leaves will remain green.

MANGANESE. Plants become stunted, and leaf tissue will turn off-white or yellowish and die, leaving dead spots on the foliage.

BORON. The new growth of plants die, and buds turn light green and will not form flowers. Also, existing leaves are small and misshapen, and plant stems are unusually short. This problem normally occurs in high alkaline soils.

Fertilizer is key

If you want to prevent most if not all of these deficiencies, the best way to do it is to think organic. Sure, toss out that commercial 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 fertilizer at planting time, but also supplement the feedings with generous amounts of compost mixed in with the soil and organic mulch (which will break down and release many micronutrients into the garden naturally). Also, occasional supplemental applications of nutrient-rich manure tea, fish emulsion or kelp spray through the growing season will go a long way in preventing your garden from having the poor dirt blues.

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