Thought I would share these photos as proof that tomatoes thrive on Epsom salts. Epsom salts are not salt really, but magnesium sulfate. For some reason, plants can’t get enough of it.
Hello Cindy,
We have grown tomatoes every summer without too much trouble..but this year was an unusual success thanks to an article my husband Keith read in the Register earlier this year. The article was about using Epsom salt on plants…especially tomatoes. He planted the 2 inch plant we bought in steer manure and used Epsom salt every other week. The plant quickly outgrew the tomato cage we usually use. Keith then attached it to a trellis…..which it outgrown and even broke. It was at least nine feet tall….with lots of yummy cherry tomatoes!
Thanks to the Register for the great tip! (Worked great on the chili’s we grew too!)
–Kristen Haskins
P.S. Keith is 6’3”….you can see how tall the plant grew!
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There is a huge Tomato field just north of Oceanside and bordering on I-5. From my casual viewing this field is planted with tomatos every year
and the land is baren between tomato plantings. What is their secret to
avoid the pitfalls of not rotating the tomato plantings?
I’m wondering if they don’t fumigate the soil with methyl bromide or bromine. There is black plastic early in the year, and they might use that for the fumigation process. But I’m just guessing.
Can methyl bromide or bromine be obtained by someone other than a commerical grower, I wonder?
no. You’ll need a license
Kristen,
What’s the Epsom salts to water ratio?
I use about a cup to two gallons of water as a drench. Or you can simply sprinkle it around the base of your plants, a couple of tablespoons for large plants, a pinch or two for smaller. Don’t worry too much, you can’t hurt your plants with Epsom Salts.
What is a drench as in the Epsom Salt for tomatoes?
Do you drench the soil or the plant?
Add a cup of epsom salts to two gallons of water, and pour it on the plants. Easy
Tomato plants-Jerry baker master gardener states in his garden tonic
book-generously soak the soil around tomato plants with the following: 2 tbsp of epsom salts, 1 tsp of baby shampoo in one gal.
water! Tonic also helps stimuate fruit set. Also states to make tomatoes more sweet , add a spoon full sugar in hole and crushed
egg shells for calcium. Have been making compost for my tomatoes
in a garbage can with grass clippings, leaves and kitchen scraps(no
meat).Pour on this tonic for compost booster: 1 can of beer, one can of
regular cola, 1 cup of ammonia, half cup of weak tea water and
2 tbsp of baby shampoo. It works for me!