Epsom Salt

[AlittleSalt]

I've used Epsom salt in the garden for tomatoes and peppers for years now. I've tilled it into the soil and put a teaspoon in the holes I plant pepper plants in. This morning, I was reading at http://bestplants.com/epsom-salt-garden-cheats/ that you can,

"Pre-Planting Soak – Prior to planting, soak root balls in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt diluted in one gallon of water."

Have any of you ever done this? If so, what were the results?

[linuxmoose]

Without a proper soil test, I would be concerned about it building up over time. 1/2 cup per gallon seems a little strong, too. I would be worried about damaging the plant. Maybe try it on one or two as an experiment first?

[Worth1]

I've read everything from old wives tale to it being the best thing since sliced bread.
I'm leaving well enough alone and not doing it.
They spray the palms in Florida right before tourist season with it to green them up from what someone said here a while back.

Why not just leave it out this year and see what happens.

Worth

[AlittleSalt]

How I'm planting this year, I could try one group one way and the other two groups differently.

I'm planting 40,000+ Scoville peppers together in a round bed. These hot peppers are being grown more as ornamental. I could try what I read this morning on them. I agree linuxmoose, half a cup per gallon of water does sound like too much. I'll try it with 1/4 cup per gallon.

The other two groups are the ones we want to eat.

I'll grow one group the way we always have.

The other group, I'll grow how Worth suggested.

Robert

[drew51]

Originally Posted by linuxmoose

Without a proper soil test, I would be concerned about it building up over time. 1/2 cup per gallon seems a little strong, too. I would be worried about damaging the plant. Maybe try it on one or two as an experiment first?

You don't have to be concerned about it building up over time magnesium sulfate is one of the most soluble compounds around. it is very quickly washed away. I agree on dosage that does seem strong.

[RayR]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaCV...ature=youtu.be

[drew51]

What's funny about the video is afterward another video is next that indorses the use, In general I agree with the video, but he quotes a professor who has been known to fake data. Which is rather disturbing. But the guy uses many sources. i watched some of the other videos. Good info, thanks much for that link. I learned a lot today!

[Lee]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

I'm planting 40,000+ Scoville peppers together in a round bed. These hot peppers are being grown more as ornamental.

Robert

Took me a bit to realize you didn't mean you were planting 40000 peppers..... It's been a long day....

Lee

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by Lee

Took me a bit to realize you didn't mean you were planting 40000 peppers..... It's been a long day....

Lee

40,000 plants!

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I've read everything from old wives tale to it being the best thing since sliced bread.
I'm leaving well enough alone and not doing it.
They spray the palms in Florida right before tourist season with it to green them up from what someone said here a while back.

Why not just leave it out this year and see what happens.

Worth

That was me who said that about spraying the palm trees in FL to green them up beofre the tourist season. And it works since MG++ is the center portion of chlorophyll.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_in_biology

Scroll down on the page to Chlorophyll.

And role of Magnesium in Blossom end rot:

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgi...m_end_rot.html

I don't know why so many folks use it for tomatoes, or any other veggies such as squash and cauliflower and others that are also susceptible to BER/

And I've never understood why so many folks put it in a planting hole along with so many more amendments either.

Best to put the plant alone in the hole, water well to remove air pockets so the roots are making contact with the soil, and let it go at that.

Carolyn

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

That was me who said that about spraying the palm trees in FL to green them up beofre the tourist season. And it works since MG++ is the center portion of chlorophyll.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_in_biology

Scroll down on the page to Chlorophyll.

And role of Magnesium in Blossom end rot:

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgi...m_end_rot.html

I don't know why so many folks use it for tomatoes, or any other veggies such as squash and cauliflower and others that are also susceptible to BER/

And I've never understood why so many folks put it in a planting hole along with so many more amendments either.

Best to put the plant alone in the hole, water well to remove air pockets so the roots are making contact with the soil, and let it go at that.

Carolyn

Yes Carolyn I knew it was you.
How long ago was that now?

Worth

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Yes Carolyn I knew it was you.
How long ago was that now?

Worth

Four long years ago Worth.

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...hyl+palm+trees

Carolyn

[LindyAdele]

I use some epsom salt on my peppers, and I sprinkle some into my tomato beds at the start f the season, and then again when flowering. Peppers love the stuff. I have peppers in containers, and used epsom on half last year, every two weeks. Those that recieved it were much fuller, and produced considerably more fruit. I can only say it worked for me. I know all the weird ammendments we use seem like hokus pokus and a bit of superstition...but it is fun to concoct a recipe, and play with different magic ingredients!

[Gardeneer]

Most fertilizers already have Mg in them. I remember MG product, TTF, Osmocote, Foliage Pro, Tomato Tone.
So if you use any of those fertilizers, probably you won't need to sprinkle/add Epsom salt. If I remember it correctly excess can block the intake of some other elements.
Just My Opinion.

Gardenner

[whistech]

Let us know the results of your experiment. I'm betting you won't see any difference.