I built some 4x8x10 inch raised beds at a house couple years ago right on top of the lawn. I filled them with a couple buckets of dirt from my pasture. Done great for a couple years but last year they kinda stalled out. Soon as the ground thawed, I added 100lbs of manure compost and 100lb bagged topsoil to each bed and tilled it a few times.

They were already planted before I thought to test the soil. Everything is up about 8” or so. I just tested it and N = deficient, P = depleted, P = depleted? I tested the soil from about four inches deep. What can I do now that it’s planted to help this season? The beds are at homes for mentally handicapped adults and they sure love their gardens. Hate for them to fail. Any and all advise is appreciated.

Also, I done this at all three homes exactly the same and they all tested the same. The test said purified water recommended but I just used regular well water. I’ll try testing again with pure water but I would think well water would be the same? Thanks again......shane

I'd say throw on some 16-16-16 and water it. Going forward for $20 whitetail institute will give you an exact nutrient and PH count and what and how much fertilizer and lime to add for different types of plants. Hope that helps...

What's the pH of your soil?

Mulch the plants with good compost.

for this year mulch with compost , I would be a little Leary about chemical fertilizer around food beds and mentally handicapped.
however this might be a safe option https://www.miraclegro.com/en-us/products/miracle-gro-performance-organics-edibles-plant-0

it would be good to start them a compost bin where they collect up all the food scraps and make their own compost.

worm boxes can also be good http://compost.css.cornell.edu/worms/steps.html

if there is room to have one extra raised bed that is that years soil building bed or if you do a potato bed each year , harvest is early enough that they have time to build soil in it for the next year

You should Always amend soil in the fall ...till it in good and It will break down and give up its nutrients by spring.

Check your ph, until your ph is right the soil will not use all of your amendments efficiently.

2x on the fertilizer. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium are always chemicals no mater how you get them out of a bag or out of the rear end of old betsy.

You are deficient in all three of the major nutrients. Tod get some quick growth sprinkle some commercial say 10-10-10 or 19-19-19 or what is common for your area around the plants or about two inches deep and two inches out from the rows if you have rows. This commercial fertilizer will break down fast and get to the roots quickly. It will also provide nutrients to breakdown whatever organic compost type material you apply. Don't apply high fiber or lignin type compost while you are growing this year as it will take nutrients to break down the compost for the plants. Some good chicken litter etc. would be great and keep that moist.

Also do a pH and find out if you are acid or basic. With your bed sizes and depths it will be easy to calculate the amount of either lime or sulfates you will need to correct the pH.

Bryce

I’ve checked ph every year since I made them with a probe tester and always seven. The test I just did where you water down the sample, then after it settles, use a dropper to fill test tubes and add the capsule of powder, it tested neutral. I got more sample dirt to re test tonight with distilled water just to be sure I didn’t screw it up somehow. I’m gonna re test only two as I won’t get to the other till end of week.

Thanks for the help. I know nothing about raised beds or gardening for that matter. I plant a decent garden every year in Alabama and never done anything to the soil.

This fall plant a cover crop to till in to your beds. Harry vetch or some type of pea will help with nitrogen . Remember certain crops use or add certain minerals to the soil and can be moved around to make use of these traits.

Teepee hit it on the head. It's all just chemistry.

Might try a foliar spray fert. I got some called locomotive.

I like what you said about chicken litter and lime/ sulfates. I lean towards the natural methods as much as possible.

After the replies, I side dressed all three with 20-20-20 and it rained all night that night. I got some fish juice stuff and watered 2 beds from a can before turning on the sprinkler. The third bed I did the same but used miracle grow.

I pre measured more of both to be used once a week which happened judging by the count. Went to all three houses yesterday and all beds are growing good. Two beds have these yellow spots on the leaves? One bed with fish juice and the miracle grow bed. Which happen to be 31 miles apart if it matters.

Radish, cucumber, squash, and pumpkins are all infected. Tomatoes and pole beans are not? There was also a melon plant not infected but no one remembers what kind. Could it be from some nutrient deficiency or some kind of mold/disease.? Anything I can do to treat it? Thanks for all the help with these projects. ....shane

Fyi horse manure has very little nitrogen in it and takes a long time to really break down .

Horse's don't break down seeds as well as cows do so unless you don't mind weeding, I would suggest to go with cow manure.

Composted chicken manure

The white spots on the plants are white powdery mildew.look on you-tube for some things you can do to try and stop it.