Why Epsom Salt ?

Aphid · May 23, 2011

Why should I be adding Epsom Salt to the planting hole and how does it stop Blossom end rot ?

I keep hearing this solution but no one can tell me why,, I thought epsom salt was magnesium .

My fertilizer contains magnesium plus I use Dolomite,,, what is so magical about epsom salt ?

I did a little digging and found that way back in the 1920s'ish and even earlier people used epsom salt to replenish the soil from intensive crop production
It's not like they had a lot of options for fertilizers and amendments back than

Is this just another home remedy that has simply been passed on from generation to generation ? or is it a must use amendment for tomatoes and peppers?

also does it really "stop blossom end rot" ?

SmartAlex · May 23, 2011

I'm no expert, but my research told me that Blossom End Rot is caused by Calcium deficiency and that Magnesium (Epson Salts) aids in the assimilation of Calcium.

Magnesium deficiency is shown be yellowing between the veins of the leaves.

So, since I had a touch of both last year, I used Bone Meal watered in by Epson Salt solution.

camochef · May 23, 2011

Aphid,
Years ago I had a friend that swore by using epsom salts, especially for the treatment of BER. One particularly wet spring I was having lots of BER and decided I had nothing to lose in trying his suggestions.
I bought bags and boxes of epsom salts and applied liberal amounts around those plants that were suffering with BER. Well, wonders of wonders...it worked! No more BER! It took a couple weeks but it cured the problem.
Then I realized that the weather conditions had changed drasticly during that time period also. We went from a wet spring into our typical dry summer. After much thought, I decided that the epsom salts didn't solve the problem but the weather conditions changing did.
I haven't applied epsom salts since then, but I can understand how many can relate their use to a cure. Eliminating the stress from too much rain makes more sense to me than adding salts that don't contain ingredients which would help. Then too, I'm no expert at anything!
Camo

mjc · May 23, 2011

BER is very rarely, if ever, caused by an actual lack of available calcium. It is usually caused by stress...too much water, too little and so on.

Epsom salts, as a general 'tonic', though seems to have some merit. There seems to be several benefits to adding some...

coloken · May 23, 2011

There are many things that people add to there plants. All kinds of recommendations and folk remedies. Most do no good, but if it makes you feel better, go ahead and do it.

fortyonenorth · May 23, 2011

Epsom salts is Magnesium sulfate. If your soil has adequate Calcium but is deficient in Magnesium, then adding ES will help bring your soil into balance. But, there are many other components to "balance" as well. If you are adding Dolomite in addition to a fert that contains Magnesium, adding Epsom salts will do more harm than good.

My recommendation would be to test your soil BEFORE adding anything and then follow directions for amending based on this. If you don't know what you "have" first - adding anything is just a crap shoot.

beeman · May 23, 2011

Two years ago we had a soil test done. 'VERY Low' in Magnesium, accounts for why my plants lacked lustre.
So last year was the first in adding Epsom Salts, improved the garden no end.
Another soil test this year revealed a shortage but just 'Low', that was after handfuls of Epsom salts were added.
So this year we're adding more, yet again, so far the results are much better than in previous years.
As the postings say "Get a soil test" saves both time and money.

TZ-OH6 · May 23, 2011

Calcium has a greater binding power than magnesium and forms a strong bond with the sulfate in Epsom's salt. That is why you are not supposed to mix Epsom's salt in with fertilizers, especially those with calcium nitrate. It locks up the Calcium making it more difficult for the plants to get it.

travis · May 23, 2011

I've used Epsom salts for many years as a supplement for tomatoes. At the late seedling stage, while holding 6-week old plants until I can set them out, and when they begin showing signs of micronutrient stress, I water them with 1 Tbs. Epsom salts per gallon water. When I set them in the garden, I add a small handful of Epsom salts to the planting hole along with a little bone meal and 12-12-12. My eyes tell me the Epsom salts help green up tomato vines, I assume by facilitating the uptake and use of macronutrients and other micronutrients. The results for me have been healthier plants and better fruit quality. I buy Epsom salts in the pharmacy area at Walmart because I can get the same amount for 3.28 as nursery centers and big box hardware outlets sell for 6.99 or 8.99 in a bag labelled for garden use.

**carolyn137** · May 23, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis

I've used Epsom salts for many years as a supplement for tomatoes. At the late seedling stage, while holding 6-week old plants until I can set them out, and when they begin showing signs of micronutrient stress, I water them with 1 Tbs. Epsom salts per gallon water. When I set them in the garden, I add a small handful of Epsom salts to the planting hole along with a little bone meal and 12-12-12. My eyes tell me the Epsom salts help green up tomato vines, I assume by facilitating the uptake and use of macronutrients and other micronutrients. The results for me have been healthier plants and better fruit quality. I buy Epsom salts in the pharmacy area at Walmart because I can get the same amount for 3.28 as nursery centers and big box hardware outlets sell for 6.99 or 8.99 in a bag labelled for garden use.

Travis, the main reason why Epsom Salts greens up the plants is due to the Mg++ which is the central part of the chlorophyll molecule so that more of it can be made and thus more energy from photosynthesis and greener plants.

So yes,the increased Mg++ makes for greener plants.

Well I remember when I read about spraying the palm trees in FL to green them up so they'd be more attractive to the snowbirds since tourism is the biggest money maker in FL last I knew.

travis · May 23, 2011

Thanks, Carolyn, I'll remember to spray the tomato foliage with an Epsom salts solution before each paying garden tour!

**carolyn137** · May 23, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis

Thanks, Carolyn, I'll remember to spray the tomato foliage with an Epsom salts solution before each paying garden tour!

And you don't spray if you aren't charging folks to just OBSERVE your plants?

I had no idea you had additional income from charging folks to even put a foot in your garden.

Sheesh!

WVTomatoMan · May 23, 2011

Aphid:
Why should I be adding Epsom Salt to the planting hole
The same reason you add any admendment. Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is an essential element in the chlorophyll molecule. In other words it makes 'em green and helps 'em grow.

and how does it stop Blossom end rot ?
I don't think it does. I've used Epsom Salt and susceptible varieties still got BER under adverse conditions.

My fertilizer contains magnesium plus I use Dolomite,,, what is so magical about epsom salt ?
There's nothing magical about it. The reason to use Espom Salt instead of other magnesium soil amendments is its high solubility.

Is this just another home remedy that has simply been passed on from generation to generation ? or is it a must use amendment for tomatoes and peppers?
It is a home remedy and has been passed down from one generation to the next, that's how I learned of it. It is not a must use amendment.

Everyone else:
Just a word of caution for those of you wanting to "play with" Epsom Salt. You can use too much. When that happens you get a big lush plant with a nice dark green color. The downside is it doesn't set fruit. The upside is if you back off on the Epsom Salt the next flowering cycle or the one after that the plant will go back to setting fruit. In my case I used 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt per gallon of water and sprayed the plant once or twice a week. I don't know the exact cut off point on what makes too much. I assumed that would be too much and I wanted to see what would happen. It was too much and that's what happened (the plant didn't set fruit).

BTW, I've used Epsom Salt in the hole, side dressed with it, and used it as a foliar spray. Sometimes I use it, most of the time I don't. What you choose to do is up to you.

Good luck and be careful.

Randy

Aphid · May 24, 2011

thank you everyone for the very informed responses.. I was never big on anything containing the word "salt" ... but It sounds like if used in moderation ,, it could be helpful ( or at least in the mind...lol )... I am rebuilding my entire raised bed garden next season... soil samples will be taken.

I want to get them filled over the late fall so the soil can mellow over winter into spring ,,, I thought about adding epsom salt to the soil mix while it was in big piles while mixing... I think I will wait untill spring and after the sample results ..

I may spray a few plants this year with the epsom salt dilution just to try it when things start loosing the healthy green-ness

thanks again,,, I love this forum.

May 23, 2011	#1
Aphid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nashville TN zone 6-B Posts: 133	Why Epsom Salt ? Why should I be adding Epsom Salt to the planting hole and how does it stop Blossom end rot ? I keep hearing this solution but no one can tell me why,, I thought epsom salt was magnesium . My fertilizer contains magnesium plus I use Dolomite,,, what is so magical about epsom salt ? I did a little digging and found that way back in the 1920s'ish and even earlier people used epsom salt to replenish the soil from intensive crop production It's not like they had a lot of options for fertilizers and amendments back than Is this just another home remedy that has simply been passed on from generation to generation ? or is it a must use amendment for tomatoes and peppers? also does it really "stop blossom end rot" ?

May 23, 2011	#2
SmartAlex Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Western NY Posts: 38	I'm no expert, but my research told me that Blossom End Rot is caused by Calcium deficiency and that Magnesium (Epson Salts) aids in the assimilation of Calcium. Magnesium deficiency is shown be yellowing between the veins of the leaves. So, since I had a touch of both last year, I used Bone Meal watered in by Epson Salt solution.

May 23, 2011	#3
camochef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Posts: 707	Aphid, Years ago I had a friend that swore by using epsom salts, especially for the treatment of BER. One particularly wet spring I was having lots of BER and decided I had nothing to lose in trying his suggestions. I bought bags and boxes of epsom salts and applied liberal amounts around those plants that were suffering with BER. Well, wonders of wonders...it worked! No more BER! It took a couple weeks but it cured the problem. Then I realized that the weather conditions had changed drasticly during that time period also. We went from a wet spring into our typical dry summer. After much thought, I decided that the epsom salts didn't solve the problem but the weather conditions changing did. I haven't applied epsom salts since then, but I can understand how many can relate their use to a cure. Eliminating the stress from too much rain makes more sense to me than adding salts that don't contain ingredients which would help. Then too, I'm no expert at anything! Camo

May 23, 2011	#4
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	BER is very rarely, if ever, caused by an actual lack of available calcium. It is usually caused by stress...too much water, too little and so on. Epsom salts, as a general 'tonic', though seems to have some merit. There seems to be several benefits to adding some...

May 23, 2011	#5
coloken Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Co Posts: 303	There are many things that people add to there plants. All kinds of recommendations and folk remedies. Most do no good, but if it makes you feel better, go ahead and do it.

May 23, 2011	#6
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	Epsom salts is Magnesium sulfate. If your soil has adequate Calcium but is deficient in Magnesium, then adding ES will help bring your soil into balance. But, there are many other components to "balance" as well. If you are adding Dolomite in addition to a fert that contains Magnesium, adding Epsom salts will do more harm than good. My recommendation would be to test your soil BEFORE adding anything and then follow directions for amending based on this. If you don't know what you "have" first - adding anything is just a crap shoot.

May 23, 2011	#7
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Two years ago we had a soil test done. 'VERY Low' in Magnesium, accounts for why my plants lacked lustre. So last year was the first in adding Epsom Salts, improved the garden no end. Another soil test this year revealed a shortage but just 'Low', that was after handfuls of Epsom salts were added. So this year we're adding more, yet again, so far the results are much better than in previous years. As the postings say "Get a soil test" saves both time and money.

May 23, 2011	#8
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 848	Calcium has a greater binding power than magnesium and forms a strong bond with the sulfate in Epsom's salt. That is why you are not supposed to mix Epsom's salt in with fertilizers, especially those with calcium nitrate. It locks up the Calcium making it more difficult for the plants to get it.

May 23, 2011	#9
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	I've used Epsom salts for many years as a supplement for tomatoes. At the late seedling stage, while holding 6-week old plants until I can set them out, and when they begin showing signs of micronutrient stress, I water them with 1 Tbs. Epsom salts per gallon water. When I set them in the garden, I add a small handful of Epsom salts to the planting hole along with a little bone meal and 12-12-12. My eyes tell me the Epsom salts help green up tomato vines, I assume by facilitating the uptake and use of macronutrients and other micronutrients. The results for me have been healthier plants and better fruit quality. I buy Epsom salts in the pharmacy area at Walmart because I can get the same amount for 3.28 as nursery centers and big box hardware outlets sell for 6.99 or 8.99 in a bag labelled for garden use.

May 23, 2011	#13
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	Aphid: Why should I be adding Epsom Salt to the planting hole The same reason you add any admendment. Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is an essential element in the chlorophyll molecule. In other words it makes 'em green and helps 'em grow. and how does it stop Blossom end rot ? I don't think it does. I've used Epsom Salt and susceptible varieties still got BER under adverse conditions. My fertilizer contains magnesium plus I use Dolomite,,, what is so magical about epsom salt ? There's nothing magical about it. The reason to use Espom Salt instead of other magnesium soil amendments is its high solubility. Is this just another home remedy that has simply been passed on from generation to generation ? or is it a must use amendment for tomatoes and peppers? It is a home remedy and has been passed down from one generation to the next, that's how I learned of it. It is not a must use amendment. Everyone else: Just a word of caution for those of you wanting to "play with" Epsom Salt. You can use too much. When that happens you get a big lush plant with a nice dark green color. The downside is it doesn't set fruit. The upside is if you back off on the Epsom Salt the next flowering cycle or the one after that the plant will go back to setting fruit. In my case I used 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt per gallon of water and sprayed the plant once or twice a week. I don't know the exact cut off point on what makes too much. I assumed that would be too much and I wanted to see what would happen. It was too much and that's what happened (the plant didn't set fruit). BTW, I've used Epsom Salt in the hole, side dressed with it, and used it as a foliar spray. Sometimes I use it, most of the time I don't. What you choose to do is up to you. Good luck and be careful. Randy

May 24, 2011	#14
Aphid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nashville TN zone 6-B Posts: 133	thank you everyone for the very informed responses.. I was never big on anything containing the word "salt" ... but It sounds like if used in moderation ,, it could be helpful ( or at least in the mind...lol )... I am rebuilding my entire raised bed garden next season... soil samples will be taken. I want to get them filled over the late fall so the soil can mellow over winter into spring ,,, I thought about adding epsom salt to the soil mix while it was in big piles while mixing... I think I will wait untill spring and after the sample results .. I may spray a few plants this year with the epsom salt dilution just to try it when things start loosing the healthy green-ness thanks again,,, I love this forum.