As green-fingered folk gear up for the growing season, Mrs Hinch fans have revealed a nifty trick to help you achieve stronger and healthier tomato plants – and it will only set you back by 20p
There’s nothing more rewarding than growing your own vegetables, but the unpredictable spring temperatures can slow the growth of your tomato plants and leave you with a disappointing crop.
From plum to cherry, there are countless varieties of British tomatoes available on supermarket shelves, so it’s no surprise that green-fingered folk are eager to grow their own. In fact, research by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has shown that tomatoes are the most popular vegetable to grow at home, alongside potatoes and runner beans.
The RHS warns that problems can strike when growing conditions aren’t ideal, but garden enthusiasts have taken to Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips Facebook page to reveal a little-known trick that will give your tomato plants a boost. To get the absolute best from your crop, social media users have suggested using Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium sulphate.
One user uploaded a photo of them using Epsom salt on their tomato plants, with the caption: “Epsom salt used as a plant boost. Epsom salts improve calcium uptake in plants and provide plants with essential magnesium which is in short supply in the majority of garden soils.
“Magnesium also helps prevent leaf curling and with calcium helps prevent blossom end rot. Add two tablespoons of Epsom salt to the planting hole before planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and melons.” Fellow members backed up this advice in the comments section, as one user wrote: “Only came across Epsom salts as a soil improver earlier this year, at first I thought someone was having a laugh. But, when I realised it was good advice, I tried it, and it really works.”
A second echoed: “I have friends who use Epsom salts on their allotments with great success for helping grow their vegetables so I had to try it for my plants. Really helps produce better stronger tomato plants that produce a good crop of fruit. Now it’s an essential for me when I grow tomatoes.”
Another said: “Yes, I’m all for using Epsom salt in the garden, especially on my tomato plants. It gives them a real boost. Not only did it improve the taste and size of the plant it also helped fix yellow leaves that developed on my plant.” A fourth wrote: “Epsom salt is my go-to when growing tomatoes as it stops them from going brown.” Shoppers can bag 450g of Epsom salt from Amazon for £2.58, working out at around 20p per recommended use of the product.
The bathroom essential can support tomato plants that are suffering with a magnesium deficiency, but can be ineffective in other cases. According to experts, Epsom salt can enhance flavour, growth, nutrient uptake, and fix yellow leaves, but it will not deter pests, prevent blossom end rot, and speed up germination.
Tomato plants only require a small amount of Epsom salt to achieve the desired result, as too much can actually damage the vegetable. Similarly, if the soil or plants are not magnesium deficient, then this can cause more harm than good. This could lead to root problems, or result in a build-up of magnesium in the soil that causes an imbalance of micronutrient absorption. Before applying the product, gardeners should always use a soil test. However, it’s worth noting that if gardeners are fertilising correctly throughout the growing season, they shouldn’t need to add an outside source of magnesium at all.
