I fertilized my plants very heavily with nitrate nitrogen fertilizer. It rained a lot after I applied the fertilizer. Now, my plants are yellowing - a classic sign of nitrogen deficiency. What happened? -Gardener
Dear Gardener,
It sounds as if the nitrate nitrogen leached right out of the soil during the big rainstorms. Sorry to hear that!
For more on how nutrient deficiencies can occur even under adequate fertilizer conditions, see here. It's not always the gardener's fault!
Photo: A nitrogen deficient corn ear on the right. USDA-ARS.