Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: dig4victory on May 16, 2010, 18:15

Title: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: dig4victory on May 16, 2010, 18:15
Any suggestions for the best feed for magnesium def in spuds, toms etc?
Anyone have a favourite brand or product?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: compostqueen on May 16, 2010, 18:18
Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate)  You can get it from the local lotty shop

or liquid seaweed

Not very high up on such things though as I tend to use comfrey tea for everything  :)
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 16, 2010, 18:21
What makes you think they are short of magnesium ?
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: kermit on May 16, 2010, 19:11
Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate)  You can get it from the local lotty shop

or liquid seaweed

Not very high up on such things though as I tend to use comfrey tea for everything  :)

Oh, does liquid seaweed feed have high magnesium content??  That'll save me going and buying epson salts for my toms then.
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: compostqueen on May 17, 2010, 00:16
I have no idea what the chemical make up of liquid seaweed is but it's good news for plants.  I think the idea is that if used regularly your plants will not suffer from deficiencies as it improves the plant's take up of nutrients.   Epsom salts is cheap though, especially in the lotty shop  :)
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: toasted on May 17, 2010, 09:01
unsulphured molasses is also high in magnesium and will chelate other nutrients in the soil making them more available
helps feed the microlife in the soil too
 
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: 8doubles on May 17, 2010, 10:31
I have no idea what the chemical make up of liquid seaweed is but it's good news for plants.  I think the idea is that if used regularly your plants will not suffer from deficiencies as it improves the plant's take up of nutrients.   Epsom salts is cheap though, especially in the lotty shop  :)

A packet of epsom salts will last for two or three years , worth raiding the piggy bank. :)
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: compostqueen on May 17, 2010, 13:32
My 500 gram bag cost me 75p  :D
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: solway cropper on May 17, 2010, 23:08
I'm fortunate in living by the sea and make up loads of liquid feed from seaweed. Not only does it contain magnesium and zinc but lots of other trace elements and the alginates, the sticky stuff, help bind the soil so it can hold on to nutrients.

Nature will provide.
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: compostqueen on May 18, 2010, 08:54
It must be great to be able to get it straight from the beach  :)  Mind you I only had to cart my seaweed from the shed shop to the plot, it was bagged and dry. Phew  :lol:
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: mike1987 on May 18, 2010, 08:59
liveing near the sea i can get bags and bags of the stuff can i use it for compost?
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: Salmo on May 18, 2010, 09:23
What is the dilution rate for epsom salts on tomatoes and spuds?
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: compostqueen on May 18, 2010, 09:29
oh eck!  I wrote it down on my bag label (as I asked the same question) but I picked up another bag, so by the time I'd got to my plot I'd forgotten. doh

I Googled but all I seemed to find were instructions for using it for growing cannabis  :wacko:

I erred on the side of caution and added two small scoops to my 1.5 gall watering can
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: dig4victory on May 20, 2010, 09:01
Thank you for your advice everyone, I will give epsom salts a go first.

I think its magnesium as leaves are yellowing a bit - just caught a couple of my squashes which are ready to go in, yellowing a bit too.  Checked the leaves out with online comparisons of mag def.

Compostqueen, by a small scoop do you mean around a tablespoonful??
Title: Re: Best magnesium feed?
Post by: compostqueen on May 20, 2010, 12:13
those small scoops that come with granular fertiliser such as Miraclegro and the like

I asked the lotty man and he said one ounce to one gallon which he said was three teaspoons. As long as you don't add too much you'll be fine  :)