Using Epsom Salt for Tomatoes & Peppers

[Brandywinegirl]

I was told by a friend & I iread online that if you sprinkle a little Epsom salt around tomato & pepper plants it produces growth and makes the veggies sweet. I am trying it this year & so far my plants look pretty good. Has anyone else tried this before? How did it work for you?

[doccat5]

Epsom salts is good stuff! I normally use it to spray my tomatoes, peppers and squash when they are blossoming. It's 1 teaspooon of ES to 1 quart of water and soak the plant.

They love the extra magnesium boost the ES provides.

[Brandywinegirl]

Thanks! I also heard that if you put a book of matches below or next to the soil where you plant peppers, it helps the plant. I am trying it this year. we will see...

[Daphne]

Epsom salts is good stuff! I normally use it to spray my tomatoes, peppers and squash when they are blossoming. It's 1 teaspooon of ES to 1 quart of water and soak the plant.

They love the extra magnesium boost the ES provides.

When you say you spray your tomatoes and pepers, do you mean that you spray the solution directly ON the plants or do you soak the ground at the base?

[wurzelgummidge]

another use for Epsom salts is rejuvenating sulphated car battery's,
half a teaspoon in each cell and long slow charge.
that is if its not a sealed type as many are nowadays.
note should only be used for ailing battery's.
I discovered this by having a commercial substance analysed,and that was what it contained.
if in doubt about slow charging consult an automotive electrician.
not exactly a garden topic but garden equipment is used that takes lead acid battery's as well as cars.

[Brandywinegirl]

You spray the solution on the plant.

As for the car battery info, very interesting

[cheshirekat]

I forgot to put epsom salt on my grocery list. Darn.

I remembered the milk to use as a spray (one part milk to nine parts water) on the leaves and grapevines and on the watermelon and squash.

[Brandywinegirl]

What does the milk mixture do?

[petalfuzz]

What does the milk mixture do?

It's in Jerry Baker's book, "terrific tomatoes..."

Tomato Disease Fighter Tonic
1 part skim milk
9 parts water

text says, "apply this tonic at the first sign of trouble." I suppose that the extra calcium will help prevent blossom end rot.

Another tip of his is to sprinkle sugar in the hole at transplanting time to get the sweetest and juiciest tomatoes.

[carver_girl]

When setting out tomatoes at the beginning of the season I do the following.
Dig a nice hole and add:
2 TB Plant Tone
2 TB Rich Earth
2 TB Epsom Salts
1/4 Cup lime
Stir this into the soil in hole and add a tomato plant.

Takes care of blossom end rot and gives the plants amazing growth.

[opabinia51]

Milk cultivates the beneficial micro and macroflora and fauna that grow on the leaves and stems of plants. It is excellant as a pre emptive strike against powdery mildew, as a solution to powder mildew and as a general disease retardent.

[Brandywinegirl]

Thanks!

[opabinia51]

You are most welcome!

[Doris]

Should the milk and/or Epsom Salt be sprayed on in the AM so it will dry or at night so it won't burn?