Epsom Salt for tomatoes - Ask Extension
I am currently using Epsom salt as an additive to my tomatoes at a rate of 1 1/2 tablespoon per gallon of water, spraying on the leaves with a sprayer...
Knowledgebase
Epsom Salt for tomatoes #459385
Asked June 04, 2018, 10:28 AM EDT
I am currently using Epsom salt as an additive to my tomatoes at a rate of 1 1/2 tablespoon per gallon of water, spraying on the leaves with a sprayer once a month. This is in addition to regular fertilizing with miracle gro twice monthly. Your thoughts on the use of Epsom salt?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hello,
I checked with a Master Gardener who teaches a class on garden myths and here is her response.....
No Epsom salts ever! Unless a soil test shows a magnesium deficiency in your soil (and it won’t) you are wasting time and money. Too much magnesium can actually block calcium uptake, which leads to blossom end rot. Many people swear by Epsom salts - because they, and their grandma, always used it. The question is - what happens if you don’t use it? You might actually have better results. Unless you have done a controlled study, you can’t know. Side note, current research shows that fertilizing by spraying the leaves is not effective. The leaves are not able to take in any of the nutrients. Just water in at the base of the plant. Jeff Gillman and Linda Chalker-Scott have both written about Epsom Salts in their myth-busting books.
Hope this helps.
I checked with a Master Gardener who teaches a class on garden myths and here is her response.....
No Epsom salts ever! Unless a soil test shows a magnesium deficiency in your soil (and it won’t) you are wasting time and money. Too much magnesium can actually block calcium uptake, which leads to blossom end rot. Many people swear by Epsom salts - because they, and their grandma, always used it. The question is - what happens if you don’t use it? You might actually have better results. Unless you have done a controlled study, you can’t know. Side note, current research shows that fertilizing by spraying the leaves is not effective. The leaves are not able to take in any of the nutrients. Just water in at the base of the plant. Jeff Gillman and Linda Chalker-Scott have both written about Epsom Salts in their myth-busting books.
Hope this helps.
