Social Media Gardening Myths: The Top Five

How many of you have checked out social media internet sites? There are some great ideas...and some not so great ideas! Let's tackle just a few and remind readers of the importance of getting your information from a known, reputable source. Your local Land Grant University provides you with research-based solutions for your life. The University of Idaho Extension is your go to source for answers about gardening in Idaho. Below is a list of things to avoid:

1. Epsom salts for a bumper tomato crop.

While this may sound like a good idea, the simple fact of the matter is any time you begin any gardening project you should start with a soil test it is also a good idea to have your soil tested every few years just so that you know what is going on and what, if any, amendments may be needed. The University of Idaho Extension can provide you with a soil test. As a rule, Epsom Salts, Magnesium Sulfate, are not needed in Idaho soils because our soils generally have adequate amounts of Magnesium and due to our soil’s pH, is readily available to be taken up by our plants. 

2. Adding sugar or baking soda to your garden’s soil makes your strawberries sweeter. The  sweetness of your fruit or veggies is not determined by the amount of sugar in the soil. Plants do not acquire sweetness from the soil. If you want sweeter fruits, add sugar to them in the kitchen. 

3. Uses for eggshells in the garden. They are purported to keep slugs and snails away, add calcium to your soil, keep rabbits from eating your plants and more. Again, the best place to start is with a soil test. Usually, most Idaho soils have adequate levels of calcium. To keep slugs, and snails away, you may want to consider using diatomaceous earth. I’ve tried the eggshell to keep rabbits away with little to no luck. They will eat what they want, and eggshells are not going to stop them. If you choose to use eggs in your garden, the best thing to do is crush them up and place them in your compost bin. 4. Pennies or copper which repels slugs and snails. If I had a penny for every time I saw this…😀  Taking a moment to think about this, yeah, it does work to a limited degree. But if it does effectively repel slugs and snails, all you are going to do is repel the slugs and snails from your collection of pennies and onto your collection of peonies. Try using copper sulfate as an alternative or beer as an alternative. I hear slugs like Miller... 5. Adding sand to help loosen up clay soils. This one is perhaps my all-time favorite. Have you ever made cement? If you want healthier soil, add organic matter. In clayey soils, organic matter aids in soil drainage, improves the nutrient holding capacity and helps break up compaction. In sandy soil, it helps in water retention, improves nutrient holding capacity, and provides structure. So, while you may be prone to seeing these wonderful articles that tell you how easily you can have amazing gardens on the internet, the reality is that any garden worth having is going to require work. If you want to find out what shortcuts you can take and do work in your area, the best place to start would be from a trusted, reliable source. Your 2C Master Gardeners Facebook page is a daily source for reliable and accurate information, Instagram, and Twitter(X) too!