transplanting

[bluelacedredhead]

CFF, Search buttons are in two places. One is top left of the thread in the blue border. Other is above that just below the eden-type pic of Alan & Kimi

One thing I noticed today while trying to post a reply is, in fully reply mode (with icons and stuff), that the previous replies are in reverse to what most sites post them?? Hmmm, how to explain?? I know. That the most recent is at the bottom of the page, so one has to scroll down to find a quotable statement, instead of having it immediately below the reply window that you are trying to reply to..Not sure if this is something that a member can change in their options or if it's only the webmaster that is able to do so?? Going to find out.

AS far as epsom salts are concerned I thought it was like, Lav implies, to be used as a sidedressing around the drip line??

[brook]

Lav, when transplanting I draw a circle of powdered milk around each plant.

Generally that's the only calcium I add. And it's probably not really necessary---this is limestone country, after all. But I do it out of habit.

[bluelacedredhead]

Lots of limestone in this area too Brook. But a little west, in the area where I work, they have lots of sulphur in their water?? Maybe I should not bother buying epsom salts and just bring home jugs of sulphur water for the peppers??
Any thoughts on this??

[downinmyback]

Sulphur water is what we use to use before all of the chemical company came up with their fancy chemicals.We would have a little leaf damage but i do not remember how strong we made it up to use as Daddy did all of stuff.

[cff]

Oh cool beans !
There is a search function !!!!

We've been told BER was a calcium deficient soil problem, we have put out lime for a number of consecutive years with no change in BER.

We almost always lose the first several weeks worth of tomatoes to BER; as the season progresses the BER dissipates.

Would anyone else care to shear there Epsom Salt mixture amounts?


Thanks for the suggestions

[johno]

I think Brook is right about epsom salts making calcium available to the plant. At least, that would make sense. As posted above, BER can occur even with plenty of calcium in the soil, so it must be a problem with uptake, likely due to a nutrient deficiency.

I've always sprayed my tomato plants with milk, and avoided BER, but now it appears that that isn't what prevented it... Spraying with milk does seem to perk them up, though. Maybe the proteins in it are doing something else?..

[jeannine]

Always have done the hole, wonder if it would be better if I did the vert? Sounds like an experiment for me as my maters aint in the ground yet! This also will be my first year with the Epsom Salts, my gramps never did that one, wonder if he knew of it?

Jeannine

[brook]

CFF: I put 1 tablespoon of the salt right into the planting hole, along with my other amendments. That seems to do the trick.

When adding amendments like this it's important that they get covered by some compost or soil to prevent root burn.

[flowerpower]

Hmm, my inlaws have Sulphur water..My peppers never do that well either. Maybe I will try the powdered milk this yr. See if it makes a difference. It's common to sidedress roses with epsom salt too.

[bluelacedredhead]

Where do you get your epsom salts? Feedstore sells them, but kinda pricey for the horse crowd..
I can't get them through work oddly enough?? We have all kinds of gardening stuff, just not ES??

Suppose I have to make a trip to the city..and go to someplace awful like Wallyworld??

[brook]

Any drug store or drug department of a supermarket should carry Epsom salts. At least they do in the U.S.

[bluelacedredhead]

The little grocery store nearest to here doesn't always have what they should. I think the girl that does the ordering in the hygiene products department must use Strawberry or Green Apple shampoo cuz it's not often there are choices beyond that. If she doesn't know what something is, I don't think she bothers to order it..No imagination, lol.

I'll check there though. TY

[lavandulagirl]

Here's a little basic info on a home epsom salt trial from a few years ago - it's very basic, but gives a jumping off point... www.doityourself.com/stry/fertilizeepsomsalts
As to calcium in the soil, and the fact that it might help with BER - has anyone ever put those calcium enriched antacids in their tomato planting holes? I just heard about this recently, and at first I laughed and laughed, but thinking about it in retrospect, wouldn't it work? I mean, at least as well as anything else that's supposed to be quick?

[brook]

You might be on to something.

Not only do they contain calcium (in the form of calcium carbonate), but magnesium is part of their ingredients list. So it might be that they provide an immediate calcium kick, plus make other calcium available to the plants.

It's certainly worth trying.

[houseodessey]

I'm putting the last of my tomatoes in this afternoon. I'm going to do the tums and the epsom salts, too. Great suggestions everyone.