How Does Your Garden Grow: Fertilizers

My garden is flourishing now that we have had several days of sunshine! Yeah! I  was really beginning to get worried for a while there. My pepper plants are fairly small, but they are blooming and a few little peppers are beginning to form.

I wanted to share my secret fertilizer that I use in my garden:

It’s simple, cheap, and effective. That’s my kind of deal

Some say it doesn’t work, but I have used them for many years and say it does. This isn’t my garden pictured below, but another blogger shared some photos of their garden with and without epsom salts being used.

There’s some proof!

It’s a good idea to test your garden soil first before using them, but I have never had a garden where I couldn’t  use it.

So why does it work? According to the Epsom Salt Council:

Magnesium and sulfur are the two major components of Epsom Salt. Crop researchers have determined that magnesium is:

• A critical mineral for seed germination.
• Vital to the production of chlorophyll, which plants use to transform sunlight into food.
• An aid in the absorption of phosphorus and nitrogen, two of the most important fertilizer components.

Sulfur, the other major component of Epsom Salt, is also an important plant nutrient. Sulfer may:

• Contribute to chlorophyll production.
• Make the primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) found in most fertilizers more effective.

Although magnesium and sulfur occur naturally in soil, they can be depleted by various conditions, including heavy agricultural use over time. But unlike most commercial fertilizers, which build up in the soil over time, Epsom Salt is not persistent so you can’t overuse it. Tests by the National Gardening Association confirm – roses fertilized with Epsom Salt grow bushier and produce more flowers, while the compound makes pepper plants grow larger than those treated with commercial fertilizer alone.

I typically don’t use any other fertilizer except some compost tea (I’ll share that another time), some grass clippings, egg shells and Epsom salts. I used to swear by Miracle Gro, but that stuff loaded with harmful chemicals. Supposedly they have an organic version, but I am sure it is costly and I am not all that convinced of its safety.  You can stick with natural stuff that is much safer and much less expensive!

So how does your garden grow this week? What do you use to fertilize your garden? I have been gardening organically for about 3 years now and know I have much to learn so please share! To join in the fun, write up a gardening related  post on your blog and then link to it on the Mr. Linky below. Please link to this meme in your post so others can join in the fun! Then visit others and leave some encouraging comments, give some advice, and admire the gorgeous gardening photos! Happy gardening!

I wanted to mention that I haven’t had as much time lately to visit all of  you who have participated in this meme and I am sorry for that! I very much appreciate all who participate and make this a fun feature! *Hopefully* this week I can get around to visit and admire all of your beautiful gardens!

Tagged as: epsom salts, Gardening, natural fertilizer