My county agent here in anderson sc zone 7 recommends 1.3 lbs per acre of boron which is essential for tomatoes. Problem is that I am planting only thirty plants and boron comes in 40 lb bags.
I have heard that boric acid or borax contains boron. Anyone know if this contains boron, how much per pound and whether it would harm the plants or help. Tom

 

Not sure about using boron. We're in the same zone. If you are trying to preclude blossom end rot, we use a teaspoon of Epson Salt around the base before the plant blossoms.

 

I love to garden as well. I grow about 30 plants each year. I would suggest finding some Super Rainbow fertilizer. Super Rainbow has all the minor elements included in the mixture. I personally use 5-10-15 Super Rainbow every year.

 

I've heard that old fashioned Borax laundry soap can be used. Add a tablespoon of it to a big watering can and sprinkle it on the garden. Boron is a trace mineral so you don't need much of it and it is bad for the garden to add too much so I would only do the one treatment and not repeat until your plants show signs that it needs to be done again.

 

I would like to thank each of you that responded.
The good news is that I talked with my Clemson /Anderson co extension agent this morning and got the low down on how to deal with my problem and is as follows.
First of all I find that boron must be used lightly in the garden and is a great micro nutrient but must be used very very sparsely. My soil report recommends 1.3 lbs per acre. As you can see that is very sparse. It is harmless to children and pets, but very toxic to plants.
I have had a problem, until this morning finding boron. As soon as he brought my soil report up on the computer he said go to the supermarket and get a package of 20 mule team borax.
my garden is approx 3000 ft2 and he told me to broadcast about a tablespoon or two and no more over the garden by mixing it with the fertilizer that I was going to use and possibly some sand mixed in and using either a lawn seed spreader or a lawn fertilizer spreader.
As for the epsom salts, I put approx a level teaspoon or two mixed thoroughly with the soil from the hole that I place my tomatoes in, and this along with keeping the plants watered to keep them from stress will prevent end rot. Side dress those maters with a little calcium nitrate and watch them do their thing.
Gardening is the joy of my outdoor life and I have been doing it for over 55 yrs, but not to old to learn new tricks and if you have some to share, please send them to me. Tom

 

Well, even though Clemson ain't nothing but Auburn with a lake, that is excellent advice It's a Suthern thang guys, don't get too deep into it.