Using Epsom salt for tomato could do more harm than honest , according to an expert .
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As one of America ’s favorite veggie crops , tomatoes seem to inspire gardener to find creative way to grow bigger , more flavourous fruits . One peculiarly prevalent base redress is Epsom salt , a mutual bath linear . But should you use Epsom salt for tomatoes ? There ’s a healthy harvest ofcontroversy among gardenersand within societal media groups about using Epsom salt for love apple so lease ’s dig in to the facts with an expert to settle the question .
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Linda Chalker - Scott is a horticulturist and an associate prof at Washington State University , as well as the generator of several gardening books .
Problems with Using Epsom Salt on Plants
The uncouth belief is that Epsom salt can represent asfertilizer for your vegetable plantsand even foreclose the fear condition calledblossom end rot in tomatoes . Like manygarden myth , this one contains a grain of truth , offset by several contradiction .
Epsom salt , or atomic number 12 sulphate , does contain atomic number 12 andsulfur , both authoritative plant nutrients . When your dirt is deficient , better can be helpful . However , experts say if used incorrectly , magnesium sulfate can have many unintended import . It should n’t be sum to every love apple plant life as a matter of course .
“ Epsom saltshould not be added unless a soil run indicates a deficiency in magnesium , ” says Linda Chalker - Scott , a horticulturist and associate professor with Washington State University who has written several garden myth - snap leger . “ bestow too much of any nutrient can cause scathe to soils and plants . ”
In superfluous , magnesium sulfate can :
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate ( MgSO4 ) , a of course pass mineral containing both magnesium and sulfur . The name comes from Epsom , England , a region known for spas whose waters are laden with atomic number 12 sulfate .
Nutrients Tomatoes Need
Tomato plantsare called “ leaden feeders " because they require a lot of food to develop . They prosper with plenty of atomic number 7 , phosphorus , and potassium as well as lesser sum of atomic number 20 , magnesium , and sulfur , according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
Magnesium is an essential nutrient for vegetable plants and instrumental in chlorophyll formation . Leaves lacking atomic number 12 show a distinctive yellowing ( chlorosis ) pattern in which the folio tissue yellowness on older leave of absence , while the veins stay light-green .
Sulfur helps tomato plants build protein and develop that delicious flavor . Sulfur deficiencies , which present asyellowing of untried leaf , are even more rarified than Mg inadequacy in U.S. grime .
With both nutrient , deficiencies are meet most in large - scale intensively planted farms – and that ’s where we got the idea to use Epsom common salt for tomatoes in the first place . According to a report by Chalker - Scott , granger lead off applying magnesium sulphate to correct for “ leaf blotch ” in the 1940s , but research showed it had inconsistent results set the job . Yet because spraying leaves with Mg sulfate will “ green up ” the farewell temporarily , abode gardener reverse to easily available Epsom salt .
Common Reasons for Using Epsom Salt for Tomatoes
Epsom salt is unremarkably recommended as a fertilizer for planting , in a foliar spray to correct yellowing leaves , and to forestall or right blossom end bunk . Let ’s reckon at each reason for using Epsom salt .
As a fertilizer.
When your soil is deficient , Epsom common salt can be helpful as an amendment . But when it ’s already present , adding Mg sulphate force play nutrients to compete for access , provide uptake of some and occlude others . Excesses can cause saltiness “ burn ” on your veggie plant ’s foliation too .
To fix yellowing leaves.
There are many reasons parting twist yellow besides magnesium deficiency . Even if your soil is missing Mg , spraying leaves with atomic number 12 sulfate and water may turn your tomatoes ’ leaves light-green for a morsel , but it wo n’t speak an inherent ground lack .
To cure blossom end rot.
It ’s ill-defined how this myth of using Epsom salt for bloom terminal rot started . This job show up as dark squashy lesions on the bottom of your tomato – often in the former daily round of yield . Once it starts , the rest of the fruit degrades . The lesions are due to poor uptake of Ca trip by inconsistent watering and sometimes planting in coolheaded temperatures .
Not only does Mg sulfate have no calcium , but even if it did , the plant could n’t access it . Adding it does n’t impact the lacrimation egress and can further skew nutrient imbalances , making blossom remainder rot worse , according to North Dakota State University .
“ Blossom end rot in tomatoes is due to inconsistent watering , ” say Chalker - Scott , meaning too much and/or too little water supply over meter . " Adding unneeded nutrient does nothing to help . ”
Alternatives to Using Epsom Salt for Tomatoes
Test your soil.
Magnesium deficiency in home garden is n’t very rough-cut , it turns out . It is sometimes encounter in very sandlike and acidulous soils and can be worsened by heavy rain leaching mineral from the grunge .
Before add Epsom saltiness for tomatoes , shape if your dirt needs magnesium and/or S so you don’tupset the balance in the dirt . grunge tests by chain armour are usually offered by university or county extension offices .
“ gardener should do a stain test and use the answer as a guide for plant food covering , ” says Brooke Edmunds , elongation Horticulturist for Oregon State University . “ [ Epsom salt ] can be used to sort out stain deficiencies but only if the stain is deficient in atomic number 12 or sulphur . It does n’t hold in any of the other nutrients that plants call for ( like NPK ) . ”
Pay attention to macro- and micronutrients.
Standard fertilizers tend to volunteer mainly the big three macronutrients N , P , and K ( which stand fornitrogen / phosphorus / K ) , but check the recording label for micronutrients also . Premium plant food usually stop more diverse ingredients . Whenlooking for tomato fertilizer , the University of Missouri Extension office suggests a fertiliser proportion low-toned in nitrogen , high in phosphorus , and medium - high in potassium .
When growingtomatoes in containersorraised bed , deliberate using a high - timbre dirt mix that includes mineral that supply magnesium and sulfur .
Water consistently.
To avoid blossom end rot , plant your tomato after soil temperatures are over 50 ° atomic number 9 at night , andwater deeply and consistently . If the consideration appears despite your good elbow grease , pick off the regard fruit ( you could still eat the unblemished parts and hold open seeds for next year ) . Once watering becomes reproducible , blossom end rot ordinarily resolves itself for later fruit .
Sainju , Upendra & Dris , Ramdane & Singh , Bharat . ( 2003).Mineral nutrition of tomato . Food , Agriculture & Environment . 1 .
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/yardandgardenreport/2025-02-22/the-epsom-salt-myth
