Tomatoes and peppers not only go together in recipes, but they thrive when planted near each other in the garden, and there is a simple way to help them grow to their full potential. Both these plants have similar growing conditions, and in June, both should now have green fruits or vegetables growing on them that are set to ripen.
However, both tomatoes and peppers need a lot of energy to grow their produce, and in late spring to early summer, the nutrients in their soil can quickly deplete. If these garden crops are not fed properly in June, then they can easily become stressed from the heat next month and produce a much smaller harvest.
Jannine, an artisan farmer known as the Giant Veggie Gardener has shared a natural way to encourage tomatoes and peppers to grow bigger: spray them with Epsom salt.
She explained: “I’ve always used powdered Epsom Salts in the bottom of my hole when I transplant my tomatoes in late spring. I read it helps with producing more blossoms and hence more tomatoes. It’s also good for peppers and roses.”
Epsom salt is a natural mineral originally found in Epsom, England, that contains both magnesium and sulphur, which are nutrients needed to grow fruit and vegetables.
Magnesium is needed to turn sunlight into energy, so it helps plants absorb more nutrients from the soil and helps fruit and vegetables grow bigger.
It also helps the roots grow stronger, which is needed to help plants retain more water when the temperature rises and the soil dries out quickly.
Sulphur also supports energy production in plants, but also helps them grow stronger, so they are more likely to be resistant to pests and diseases in summer.
One of the biggest advantages of sulphur is that it contains compounds known to improve the taste of fruits and vegetables to help make them much more flavourful.
Epsom salt is a natural way to boost both tomatoes and peppers to get a bigger harvest, but you cannot simply pour the salt into the soil and call it a day.
Jannine added: “What I didn’t know was that it is more immediately available to tomatoes and peppers when sprayed on your plant’s leaves vs sprinkling it on the ground.”
All you need to do is mix one tablespoon of Epsom salt into a gallon of water, then place it into a foliar spray bottle.
Spray the solution directly onto the leaves of tomatoes and pepper plants. It tends to be better to spray them in the morning, as feeding plants later in summer can result in leaf burn.
Repeat every four weeks during summer, and you should get plumper, tastier peppers and tomatoes when harvest season arrives.
