Epsom salts are a well-liked remedy for a variety of plant ailments, but their applicability to tomatoes varies greatly.
Summer’s best produce is sweet, juicy tomatoes. Try them on a plain slice of bread or in a simple green salad with mozzarella and basil and a balsamic dressing. Thus, if your tomato plants aren’t yielding the enormous harvest you had hoped for, you may be tempted to feed them Epsom salt—a secret weapon for gardeners.
Magnesium sulfate, often known as epsom salt, is a natural mineral compound that is composed of sulfur, oxygen, and magnesium. It’s likely that you already have it laying around the house because it’s frequently used as a bath or soak to relieve pain and tight muscles. But plants can also be fed by the same micronutrients.
Does this imply that using Epsom salt will benefit your tomato plants? Not every time. To find out the best ways to use this chemical ingredient on your priceless heirloom, cherry, Roma, and beefsteak tomatoes, we chatted with knowledgeable gardeners.
The Reasons Behind Plant Use of Epsom Salts
Plant development and general health are enhanced by Epsom salt when the correct conditions are met. Since magnesium is the heart of the chlorophyll molecule, it is essential for healthy leaves and thus beneficial to the health of the entire plant.
Applying Epsom salt appropriately can help plants grow stronger by facilitating their absorption of nutrients. It can also help manage fungal diseases like powdery mildew. It is well known that epsom salt can increase fruit production, encourage bushier plants, improve seed germination, and enlarge flowers.
In Epsom salt, magnesium and sulfur are the main ingredients. Without enough of them, plant leaves may become yellow and grow poorly. They are essential for the photosynthesis of plant proteins and the activity of enzymes.
Under the right conditions, tomatoes are said to benefit from Epsom salts; peppers benefit from stronger roots and improved fruit development; citrus trees benefit from increased fruit production and reduced leaf yellowing; certain houseplants and lawns benefit from using Epsom salts as a fertilizer supplement.
When to Give Your Tomatoes Epsom Salt Treatment
Experts in gardening agree that there is one circumstance in which Epsom salt supplements may be necessary: when your tomato plants are magnesium-deficient. A magnesium deficit typically manifests as leaves with yellow, red, or brown discolored patches in addition to vibrant green ribs and veins.
You can perform a foliar analysis, which is a chemical examination of the leaves, to identify nutrient deficits in plant tissues, or you can test the magnesium levels in the soil to confirm a magnesium shortfall.
How to Treat Tomatoes for Magnesium Deficiency with Epsom Salts
Use Epsom salt according to these recommended procedures if a deficiency is identified:
Apply a solution made from one tablespoon of Epsom salt in one gallon of water to the plant’s base.
Foliar Spray: Use a gallon of water and one spoonful of Epsom salt to make a solution to spray on leaves.
During the growing season, apply once a month, being careful not to overapply, and then keep an eye on the outcomes. Observe how your plants react. Review your soil and nutrient management procedures if you see no improvement or if new problems appear.
When to Use Epsom Salt and What Not to Use on Tomatoes
When it comes to tomatoes, Epsom salt should not be used unless there is a magnesium shortage. Applying extra magnesium or Epsom salt to your plants when they don’t need it might impede their growth and make them appear excessively green, which is generally bad for the health of the plants.
Overmagnesium can cause salt buildup in the soil, which can damage plant roots and negatively impact the health of the plants overall. It can also impede the absorption of other vital elements like calcium and potassium. As with any overuse of fertilizer, overuse can contaminate groundwater.
See our list of plant problems you might be tempted to solve with Epsom salt—and what you should do instead to address the issue—to avoid using Epsom salt when it’s not necessary and could be hazardous.
Turning Yellow Leaves
Tomato leaves might turn yellow due to other conditions including nitrogen deficit, overwatering, or pest problems even if testing do not reveal a magnesium deficiency.
How to Fix: Check nutrient levels in the soil by doing a soil test; reduce watering; and look for pests in the earth and leaves. To promote healthy development and enhance air circulation around plants, which helps avoid illnesses, be careful to stake and prune your tomato plants.
Insufficient Fruit
A low fruit output may be the result of inadequate pollination, incorrect pruning, or an imbalance in nutrients.
How to Fix: To increase the likelihood of pollination, gently shake the plants or move pollen from one blossom to another using a little brush. In addition, think about adding flowers to your yard that draw pollinators like bees and butterflies, such as marigolds and borage. Last but not least, if you’re growing tomatoes indoors or in a greenhouse, use a fan to provide air movement that simulates wind and aids in pollination.
Second, employ appropriate pruning strategies to focus more energy on fruit production. This involves routinely cutting off little shoots that sprout between the main stem and branches; do not remove too many leaves, as they are necessary for photosynthesis and fruit growth. Trim during the growing season; however, do not prune heavily in the flowering or fruiting seasons. Third, use a tomato-specific fertilizer, such as Espoma Tomato-tone, which offers vital nutrients without overdoing any one component.
You can build a healthy start for a new garden or invigorate an existing one with the aid of epsom salt. Ultra Epsom Salt is safe to use at any stage of a plant’s life and won’t hurt or accumulate in the soil when applied to plants. Ultra Epsom Salt is often a good choice for a saline tank sprayer solution. All you have to do is add one tablespoon of Ultra Epsom Salt per gallon of water to your tank sprayer (which is widely accessible at home improvement and gardening stores). Once you’ve planted your garden, give it another spray after a month or so, and then again when the vegetables start to ripen. It’s thought that by following this method, your vegetable garden would grow lusher and healthier veggies. Please be aware that any plant can be treated with Epsom salt, with the exception of sage types. If you’d want more information about recommended practices, speak with your local gardener.
Tomato and pepper plants in vegetable gardens can benefit greatly from the use of epsom salt.