My normal mixture of plant fertilizer just did not seem to be helping my pepper plants. We’ve had an over abundance of rain here this past month, and that is not helping either because peppers like it hot and sunny. I try not to complain about the rain, though, because normally around here we are already into drought season. Some of our droughts are so bad here in the Sunny South that lakes and ponds dry up, and our water departments ban the use of water for plants and lawns. They even “patrol” the area and give out citations for violators. So we like rain and need rain, just not every single solitary day. This ain’t Seattle and it ain’t Liverpool.

After some research I discovered that some people claim that Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) and Coffee Grounds work very well on their pepper plants. I tried it, and so far it is working very well! I take the used coffee grounds and toss them around the base of the plant, and it will soon get “watered in.” I am using the salt on my tomato plants as well.

I try to garden as organically as possible, so Epsom Salt as a fertilizer is a great organic solution for plant fertilization.

If I think it is about to rain, I’ll usually go out and toss some salts out around my plants so the rain will water it into the soil.

NOTE: Be careful to get the plants around the plant base, not on the leaves. I got some on the leaves of a few plants, and the sun came out and burned the salt and the leaves. So be sure to get the salt on the ground, not the plant leaves.

I sprinkle Epsom salt granules around the base of the plants, if it is going to rain I don’t water it in. If not, I water it into the soil. You can also mix the Epsom salt with water first and then apply, but I just toss it out around my plants. I don’t measure it, but here are some recommendations for application:

Tomatoes, Roses: one teaspoon per foot of plant height every two weeks

Pepper Plants: Sprinkle Two Tablespoons around the base of each plant once every week

Evergreens, Azaleas, Rhododendrons: one tablespoon per 3′x3′ area over the root zone every 2-4 weeks

Lawns: Apply at a rate of 1/2 pound per one thousand square feet

Garden Plants and Shrubbery: Sprinkle two tablespoons around the base of each plant

Trees: Apply two tablespoons per 3′x3′ area over root zone once every 3 months

Garden Start Up: Sprinkle 1-2 cups per 10′x10′ area and mix into soil before planting

Houseplants: Mix one teaspoon per gallon of water and feed plants every 2-4 weeks

Epsom Salt also makes a very soothing soaking solution. Epsom Salt is great for soaking tired and aching feet, and also as an additive for a warm soaking bath. It is said that soaking in a warm bath with Epsom Salt is relaxing, soothes aching muscles, and helps relieve stress. (Please Note: Hot or warm soaks should not be used by diabetics except with the advice of a physician.)

The name “Epsom Salt” was derived when magnesium sulfate was discovered in Epsom, England in the 1500’s.

Happy Gardening and Happy Soaking!
The Ranchers Daughter
theranchersdaughter.com

LB’s daddy used a real mule to plow. But times have changed, so I use Daisy Mae.

Daisy Mae is the most reliable “mule” I ever used. She is a Yard Machine. Sometimes I get really tuckered out after a full day of plowing with Daisy Mae, and I leave her outside to plow some more the next day, and it might rain. But even so, she has always cranked right up. My Mule can go a long time on one small tank of gas.

Daisy Mae is a hard working mule. She has helped me dig up stumps. She helped me plow compost and topsoil into a garden that was sorely lacking in good dirt. And over the years we turned that garden into a fine planting area that Daisy Mae and I can be proud of.

Even in winter when I am turning under the garden area, no matter how cold it is, no matter how long Daisy Mae’s been idle without running, with a few short pulls she is up and ready to work. I always let her sit a minute and warm up before I put her right to work. I sure do love Daisy Mae, “my mule.”