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The problem is that cultivated crops can't grow in truly poor soil. They need fertile soil to thrive. This might be one reason why so many people are suffering from a food shortage. Poor soil may be one of the reasons. Read on to discover some crops that do grow in poor soil. There are many more. In the meantime, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Here are just some of the best: Tomatoes If you're wondering what grows well in poor soil for tomatoes, you're not alone. Many gardeners suffer from the same problem. A good soil for tomatoes needs plenty of organic matter. Adding mushroom compost, composted manures, or homemade compost to the soil will help the plants thrive. Tomatoes thrive in neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH level of 6.2 to 6.8. Most garden soil falls somewhere in between. You may have a poor soil for tomatoes, but it's not impossible to grow healthy, delicious tomatoes. Several factors will affect the quality and quantity of your crop. First of all, it needs consistent moisture. Tomatoes don't like dry soil, so they should get at least one inch of moisture per week. Another key is using raised beds and black plastic mulch to improve moisture. Tomatoes love consistent moisture. The most ideal soil for tomatoes is one that has a high organic matter content and good drainage. Using a garden rotted compost or aged animal manure will help improve the soil. If your soil contains too much clay, you can add some worm-friendly mulch or make a trench compost. These methods will help improve the soil's pH level, preventing any physiological problems. If you're concerned about the soil's quality, try using a soil test before you plant your tomato plants. Asparagus What grows best in poor soil? It depends on the soil's moisture, consistency, pH, and nutrients. Some plants even restore nutrients to the soil, like legumes. These plants can be tilled into the soil to replace organic material. Here are four plants that do well in poor soil: Poor soil doesn't hold much water and doesn't absorb rain well. The soil is often very compact, with little airflow down into it. The top soil has been eroded away, leaving the clay. Poor soil needs help. Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides, which wash away with rain and kill soil microbes. Soil is the key to healthy plants. Make sure your soil is rich in nutrients and a sufficient amount of moisture. Foxglove A biennial, foxgloves grow well in poor soil, and they take two seasons to complete their life cycle. In their first year, they form a dense rosette of leaves. In their second year, they bloom with their trademark spikes of flowers. If you wish to grow this flower in your yard, you may purchase plants that are already in the process of blooming. Unlike annual plants, foxgloves do not flower during their first year, instead, they use this time to develop a robust root system. A few diseases can affect your foxglove. Leaf spot can affect the leaves, causing them to turn black and yellow. The plant can also suffer from a fungal disease called verticillium wilt. If you suspect that you are experiencing this disease, you may want to remove the affected foliage or contact the Cooperative Extension Service. Verticillium wilt can attack the roots and cause yellowing and wilting. If you suspect your plants of Verticillium wilt, be sure to call your local Cooperative Extension Service or your state's Department of Agriculture. Aside from a lack of sunlight, foxgloves also need a good soil with good drainage. They need a slightly acidic soil in order to grow well. Ideally, the soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5. However, it is important to note that some foxgloves prefer full sunlight, so it is best to offer some afternoon shade. During the summer, they require plenty of water, and a well-drained soil is recommended. Cleome This perennial blooms in a variety of soil types, from rocky, sandy, and alkaline to poor. Plant the seeds in early spring and they will sprout once the ground temperature warms up. Pinch off the spent blooms to encourage more vigorous blooming. Plants need little care once they are established, although they must be removed from the ground when they die. It's best to remove the flowers before the ground freezes in late fall or early winter. Some varieties have thorns, which you should be aware of when planting. Cleome is an annual plant native to Central America. The tiny blooms appear in clusters at the end of each stem. The flowers are a deep purple color and are formed from long, narrow stamens. They have a sturdy root system and can reach down as far as 18 inches for water. Cleome is a drought-tolerant plant that requires little maintenance in the summer. Since it grows from seed, it's easy to take care of. Plant the seeds at least four feet apart and cultivate the soil deeply. If you have a sunny location, Cleome will thrive. It grows well in full sun and partial shade, but if you don't like full sun, it does well in partial shade. It does well in soil that drains well. Cleome seeds should be sown after the last frost. Ensure the soil is weed-free before planting. You should also amend the soil with organic matter, preferably compost. Organic mulch will work as an effective soil amendment. After harvesting the seeds, store them in a closed container at room temperature. You should plant them as soon as possible, as older seeds are less viable and harder to germinate. Perennial sunflowers There are several varieties of perennial sunflowers that do well in poor soil. The Maximilian sunflower, for example, is a large perennial that is hardy from zones four to nine. It has robust stems and two to three inch yellow flowers. These are considered prairie sunflowers, and they bloom late in the spring, after they have been dormant all winter. The flowers are very showy, with deep yellow centers and can be admired all year round. To plant perennial sunflowers in poor soil, plant the seeds one to one and a half inches deep. Then, plant them six inches apart. Make sure the soil is moist but not wet, and use a shovel to dig deeply. This is the best time to plant perennial sunflowers. You should start the cold stratification process eight to ten weeks before the last frost date. Store the seeds in a refrigerator and check them weekly to see if they have germinated. If they have germination, you can plant them after the danger of frost has passed. Providing the sunflower with adequate water and sunlight is essential. The more nutrients it gets, the bigger it will grow. Besides this, it is also important to provide the right amount of compost for the soil. A basic fertilizer is recommended. If you are growing sunflowers in a pot, you can use a granular fertilizer that is a good choice for this type of plant. This type of fertilizer will give you better results than a liquid form of fertilizer. Daylily If you're looking for a low maintenance flower, consider growing daylilies. They don't mind rocky soil and can be successfully planted on steep slopes, drainage ditches, and even urban hell strips. Daylilies also grow very well in containers and tolerate rocky soil. So, if you're gardening in a difficult climate, consider growing daylilies in containers. A daylily plant grows best in moist to average soil with good drainage. Water it twice a year when the scapes and buds begin to form. In the spring before flowering, use a slow-release fertilizer and water deeply. Fertilize the plant again after flowering to ensure healthy, lush blooms. Daylilies are susceptible to spider mites and thrips, so be sure to treat them with organic Neem oil or Malathion. After flowering, divide the plants by shaking the clumps to separate the leaves and roots. Daylilies tend to multiply rapidly. If you have too many plants, you can divide them by hand without damaging the roots. You can also pull the smaller clumps apart to create a new planting. After flowering, divide the plants in mid-July or early August. Daylilies tolerate division throughout the growing season. Generally, daylilies are hardy in most types of soil. In fact, they thrive even in poor soil. However, their best performance is in moist, loamy soil. This low-maintenance perennial is also known to be excellent weed control. And its color makes it an excellent choice for your garden. However, the main question you have is where and how to grow them. The American hemerocallis society offers useful information and resources to help you grow daylilies in your garden.