By John Monzingo | Assistant County Agent for Claiborne and Webster Parishes
As county agents, we are frequently asked about alternative methods for growing plants, especially when it comes to organic gardening. Our role is to help the public navigate the often-confusing mix of gardening myths and proven practices.
Recently, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across an excellent article written by my colleague Clark Robertson, County Agent in Livingston Parish. He addressed several common gardening questions we hear regularly and offered practical, research-based solutions.
Thank you, Clark, for your insight and for helping to clarify some of the most frequently asked questions in the gardening community. The following article reflects his expertise and dedication to helping Louisiana gardeners grow successfully and sustainably.
Demystifying gardening solutions
By Clark Robertson | Assistant County Agent – Horticulture for Livingston Parish
Successful gardening can seem mysterious to many who have tried and failed. I’ll admit, I’ve watched just as many of my plants die as I have seen thrive. Even when we are doing everything right, some mysterious disease or insect can pop up overnight and wreak havoc in our gardens.
I like Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word horticulture – “the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants.” If you read further under the online entry, the dictionary states that, “most American households contain at least one amateur horticulturist.” I like that statement for two reasons:
- It shows optimism in society
- It shows that you do not need to be a professional to grow plants
Horticulturalists must be optimistic, or we would’ve given up long ago. Perhaps it was out of necessity to eat that we continued to plant and replant. The words “science and art” are very true. There is an art to successful gardening, and like all talents, it only gets better the more we practice it.
Horticulture is rooted in scientific discoveries too though. When we come up against a challenge it is helpful to look to sound scientific research for how to solve it. A quick search of any garden forum on the internet will yield all sorts of advice on how to solve your plant woes. With all the information available to us, it can be difficult to decern what is a myth and what is sound advice. Let’s look at some of the popular suggestions to see whether they are myths or sound solutions.
Banana water must be one of the most widely touted cures all’s. This is water steeped with banana peels – most sources say to cut up the peels and steep them in water for 2-3 days before using to water your plants. Banana water is said to be a good source of potassium which plants need for growth.
What is the verdict? Yes, potassium is an essential element for plant growth, and yes, bananas do contain potassium. The problem with this statement is that banana water does not have enough potassium to supply the needs of plants.
In truth, banana peels need to be composted for microorganisms to properly decompose the peels before the potassium is released in a form that is usable by plants. So, if you are soaking banana peels to feed your plants potassium, it is better to throw those in the compost pile. Using quality compost will have more available potassium than banana water.
A second gardening solution I often see for curing blossom end rot in tomatoes is using eggshells in the garden. While eggshells do contain calcium, even finely ground eggshells added to your garden do not readily release calcium that your tomatoes can use right away. It will not hurt to add them to the garden, but it will take a year or more for the calcium to become available for plants to use. Verdict – unless soil is deficient in calcium, blossom end rot typically results from inconsistent watering or other nutrients hindering calcium uptake. Fertilizers such as calcium nitrate, gypsum, or bone meal supply more readily available calcium to plants.
This leads to the final myth I’ll address – adding Epsom salts to garden plants. Fertilizing with Epsom salts supplies magnesium and sulfur, both of which are essential elements used by plants. However, adding too much magnesium can hinder calcium uptake by plants. A little may be good if your soil is deficient in magnesium, but too much like any other fertilizer will burn plants. It is better to add according to what soil test recommends.
While these myths may not harm your plants, they will likely not solve the issues you are having. Many people are concerned about harmful effects to the environment or the food they are growing by what they are using. There are proven organic options for solving nutrient deficiencies. Following proven recommendations will yield better results.