boron supplement question

swamper · February 24, 2012

It turns out I have a deficiency of boron in my garden soil. All other nutrients tested out well, pH was a tad high, and my soil is sandy so that triggers it. I noticed beets have been growing poorly, and some of the greens have not been up to par.

Any suggestions for supplementation? I notice boric acid is readily available and cheap and was thinking of a very dilute watering with some dissolved before planting season. I don't want to spend more than I have to as I think most of my soil minerals are in good shape.

i know how to calculate how much to use per 1000 ft2 and it wont be much.

I'm wondering if anybody has experience supplementing with soluble boron while plants are growing or experiences with toxicity from overapplying? I'm thinking specifically garlic since it's the only thing growing now, but also perhaps a preseason and midseason supplementation for tomatoes and peppers etc

serious replies only please or I've already taken "Boron for Morons" out of the local library...

Boutique Tomatoes · February 24, 2012

I have not experimented, but what I found when researching correcting micronutrient deficiencies was a suggestion to dissolve 1 tablespoon of 20 Mule Team Borax in a gallon of water and sprinkle that on a 100 square foot area. That was supposed to last for three years, it was a fine line with too much being a very bad thing.

Do your own research though, my boron results were middle of the road so I didn't do anything with it.

swamper · February 24, 2012

my rough calculation is 2 and 1/4 oz of boric acid per 1000 ft2 which is equivalent to 6 lbs per acre of boric acid per acre which is the equivalent of 1 lb of elemental boron per acre.
http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/CIS/CIS1085.pdf

fortyonenorth · February 24, 2012

Twenty Mule Team Borax (available at the grocery store) is 9% Boron and will work just fine. I, too, have sandy soil and have used TMTB when my tests showed a deficiency. At the rate you mention (1 lb. B per acre), there would be no problem using it on your garlic beds now. I'd mix it with a good amount of sand (say 4:1 sand: Borax), so that you get a nice even spread.

tjg911 · February 25, 2012

i was going to suggest 20 mule team borax too...

i have a box of it, 99.9% full, i needed to add some a few years ago. you don't want to add too much or you can really screw up your soil but i assume you are aware of that!!!

if you want since you are in my area i'll give so some if you want to contact me, i pm'ed you my phone number a couple of days ago.

tom

Tracydr · February 26, 2012

Boric acid, like the kind you use on cockroaches.
Just be very careful. I had a spill and have an area where only certain things want to grow now. Sage is apparently not tolerant of boron, it died very quickly!

swamper · February 27, 2012

My intuition is to go with boric acid, in the garden, not borax since it is more plant available, and also borax contains sodium. H2BO3- borate probably behaves like phosphate in soil, not very mobile.

I might try the borax sparingly on the lawn. I dont want to kill all the ants. They do a good job aerating the soil. As an aside I find that mopping the kitchen floor with a little borax seems to make carpenter ants disappear.

Tracydr · February 27, 2012

I use the boric acid in the house for cockroaches, just a bit around the baseboards, sweep up the excess. Cheap and effective. Also, very safe and non-toxic around pets and toddlers.
I make little traps with it mixed with syrup or peanut butter for ants which works amazingly well.

flyingbrass · February 29, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

I make little traps with it mixed with syrup or peanut butter for ants which works amazingly well.

So do I. It solved my ant problem last year. I've found it takes several weeks to work, but does a great job. The bait is also good for killing roaches. Boric acid powder is one of the few things that works decently on scorpions if they walk through it. I've heard people swear by it (and also Borax) for killing fleas and such inside. Overall, it's very useful stuff.

For ants, I used a combo of peanut butter and either pancake syrup or jelly. I figure that covers both protein and sugar loving ants. Be careful not to mix in too much boric acid. You want the ants to live long enough to take it home. To prevent pets from getting the mixture, I spooned dabs inside liter water bottles (left the caps off) and placed them where I had the most ants.

I think the powder is water soluble. If so, spraying might be easier and more even than broadcasting to bring up the soil levels. Just be sure to calculate the correct amount. Boron is needed only in small quantities, and too much is bad for many plants.

Tracydr · March 2, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingbrass

So do I. It solved my ant problem last year. I've found it takes several weeks to work, but does a great job. The bait is also good for killing roaches. Boric acid powder is one of the few things that works decently on scorpions if they walk through it. I've heard people swear by it (and also Borax) for killing fleas and such inside. Overall, it's very useful stuff.

For ants, I used a combo of peanut butter and either pancake syrup or jelly. I figure that covers both protein and sugar loving ants. Be careful not to mix in too much boric acid. You want the ants to live long enough to take it home. To prevent pets from getting the mixture, I spooned dabs inside liter water bottles (left the caps off) and placed them where I had the most ants.

I think the powder is water soluble. If so, spraying might be easier and more even than broadcasting to bring up the soil levels. Just be sure to calculate the correct amount. Boron is needed only in small quantities, and too much is bad for many plants.

I do the same thing for ants. ITs also very safe for pets and toddlers. I have a little granddaughter and lots of pets.

February 24, 2012	#1
swamper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT Posts: 219	boron supplement question It turns out I have a deficiency of boron in my garden soil. All other nutrients tested out well, pH was a tad high, and my soil is sandy so that triggers it. I noticed beets have been growing poorly, and some of the greens have not been up to par. Any suggestions for supplementation? I notice boric acid is readily available and cheap and was thinking of a very dilute watering with some dissolved before planting season. I don't want to spend more than I have to as I think most of my soil minerals are in good shape. i know how to calculate how much to use per 1000 ft2 and it wont be much. I'm wondering if anybody has experience supplementing with soluble boron while plants are growing or experiences with toxicity from overapplying? I'm thinking specifically garlic since it's the only thing growing now, but also perhaps a preseason and midseason supplementation for tomatoes and peppers etc serious replies only please or I've already taken "Boron for Morons" out of the local library...

February 25, 2012	#5
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i was going to suggest 20 mule team borax too... i have a box of it, 99.9% full, i needed to add some a few years ago. you don't want to add too much or you can really screw up your soil but i assume you are aware of that!!! if you want since you are in my area i'll give so some if you want to contact me, i pm'ed you my phone number a couple of days ago. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

February 24, 2012	#2
Boutique Tomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a Posts: 1,109	I have not experimented, but what I found when researching correcting micronutrient deficiencies was a suggestion to dissolve 1 tablespoon of 20 Mule Team Borax in a gallon of water and sprinkle that on a 100 square foot area. That was supposed to last for three years, it was a fine line with too much being a very bad thing. Do your own research though, my boron results were middle of the road so I didn't do anything with it.

February 24, 2012	#4
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	Twenty Mule Team Borax (available at the grocery store) is 9% Boron and will work just fine. I, too, have sandy soil and have used TMTB when my tests showed a deficiency. At the rate you mention (1 lb. B per acre), there would be no problem using it on your garlic beds now. I'd mix it with a good amount of sand (say 4:1 sand: Borax), so that you get a nice even spread.

February 26, 2012	#6
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Boric acid, like the kind you use on cockroaches. Just be very careful. I had a spill and have an area where only certain things want to grow now. Sage is apparently not tolerant of boron, it died very quickly!

February 27, 2012	#7
swamper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT Posts: 219	My intuition is to go with boric acid, in the garden, not borax since it is more plant available, and also borax contains sodium. H2BO3- borate probably behaves like phosphate in soil, not very mobile. I might try the borax sparingly on the lawn. I dont want to kill all the ants. They do a good job aerating the soil. As an aside I find that mopping the kitchen floor with a little borax seems to make carpenter ants disappear.