"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Billy wrote:
In article ,
" wrote:

What is the best way to use Epsom? As a spray for the foliage or
sprinkle it around the base of the plants?

MJ


Epsom salts has been used to relieve magnesium defi ciency found
during intensive cropping of many fruit and vegetable species
worldwide. Th ese include commonly grown North American crops such as
alfalfa, apple, beets, carrots, citrus, cauliflower, cotton, grains,
hops, kale, nuts, okra, peppers, plums, potatoes, snap beans, sugar
beets, sweet potatoes, tobacco, tomatoes, watermelon, and wine
grapes, as well as more exotic species including banana, cacao, coff
ee, rubber, Swedish turnips, and tea.

Among the diverse plant materials that have been studied under
treatment with Epsom salts, there are two commonalities: all are
intensively produced crops and all were suffering from magnesium
deficiency.

There are two primary causes of magnesium defi ciency in plants:
an actual lack of soil magnesium, or an imposed defi ciency caused by
mineral imbalances in the soil or plant. Magnesium defi ciencies most
commonly occur in soils described as light, sandy, and/or acid, though
occasionally clay soils under intensive production can show
magnesium defi ciency as well.

Regardless of type, soils heavily leached by rainfall or irrigation
are more likely to exhibit magnesium defi ciency. Thus, soil addition
of highly soluble Epsom salts under leaching conditions does not
benefit magnesium-deficient plants but does increase mineral
contamination of water passing through.

To restore magnesium, buy some Epsom salts at the drugstore and add
about one tablespoon to an empty spray bottle. Then fill the bottle
with lukewarm water, shake it up so the Epsom salts dissolve and
spray the solution on the leaves and blossoms of your pepper plants.

Epsom salt solutions have been sprayed on foliage, resulting in leaf
scorch; inclusion of a wetting agent can relieve this. A teeny bit of
detergent maybe? Commercial wetting agents look pricy.

As well as all this keep in mind that a foliar spray is a quick fix not a
long term solution and it doesn't last long. Unless you want to do it
every few weeks study your soil and see what needs to be done to provide a
long term balance of minerals.

D

My land is mostly oak forest , the piece where we have made a garden was
woods until recently ~12-15 yrs ago and the soil is acid enough that
low-bush huckleberries thrive . Because a local recommended it I've been
adding 1 tbsp of ES under each tomato and pepper plant as I transplant .
Seems to be working ... and much as I hated to do it , today I used some
13/13/13 on the lettuce and a couple of the tomato plants . I'd rather build
the soil naturally , with mulches and composts . But our situation won't
allow a couple of years to let the soil become productive , I have a feeling
we're gonna need it sooner rather than later . Chickens by the weekend , we
just haven't decided whether to get chicks or older birds .
--
Snag
BTW , as mentioned in my post above , this is the first time this soil has
ever been cultivated .