How to Plant Tomatoes With Epsom Salt & Saltpeter

Purchase your starter tomato plants when the final frost date has passed in your region. Start at least six weeks before the final expected frost in your region if planning to plant seedlings from scratch.

Place leaf bearing tomato plants outside during the daytime hours in order to acclimatize the plants to outdoor temperatures. You can place your tomato plants from the nursery outside right away, but seedlings have to produce leaves and get strong before placing them outside. If your region's nighttime temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it is safe to harden your tomato plants to the evening temperature as well.

Prepare the garden soil with organic composting materials, or manufactured fertilizers. Combine your own organic fertilizing mixture that will be added to the tomatoes during planting. Mix 4 cups of Epsom salt with 2 cups of saltpeter purchased at the local pharmacy.

Dig holes for your tomato plants spacing the holes approximately 18 inches apart. Check the information that comes with your grown tomatoes or seeds for additional planting instructions pertaining to the specific variety of tomato purchased. Some varieties of tomatoes require larger spacing between each tomato plant.

Plant the flower-bearing tomatoes deeply into the holes of your garden plot. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of the Epsom salt and saltpeter mixture into the hole all around the roots of the tomato plant. Fill the dug hole firmly with the surrounding soil. Gently water the mound of soil surrounding the tomato plant.

Secure your tomato plants with their own stake or tomato cage right away. Although the plants are still small, trying to wedge stakes into the ground later when the plants are larger can damage the extensive root system of the tomatoes. Later you will need to secure the plants to the stakes or cage with twine, so they don’t fall over.

Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of the Epsom salt and saltpeter fertilizer mixture around each tomato stem every two to three weeks. Work the salts into the soil after sprinkling. Making an organic tea is another method of fertilizing. Add the salts to the water and immediately water your garden with the tea.