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Macomb County

Haven’t been able to get on the site much with 9 graduation parties in 3 week-ends. However, I ran into a grower who blew my mind and I wanted to share what I found-out to see if anyone else has heard about this. But he grows some of the best flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees and lawn I’ve seen.

When I asked him his secret, he told me chemical fertilizer like Miracle Grow mixed with molasses. I told him he has to be kidding me. But he told me, if I don’t believe him, the next time a dog pees on my lawn and leaves a burned spot from the nitrogen concentration, just pour a little molasses mixed in water on it. And I’ll soon see the grass there outgrowing the rest.

Isn’t that crazy? Things in chemical fertilizer like urea can burn plants and kill microbes. But obviously not when you mix them with molasses. It must cause the microbe population to explode and be able to digest the chemical fertilizer. All I know is he has a day lily with leaves 4 feet high and he swears that’s all he’s been feeding it.

6/28/2011 4:49:21 AM

No, It has been used in many plant foods and soil product for years. It is a good food for micro organisms in the soil and they can mineralize nutrients for the plants to absorb. Many studies on this have been done.

6/28/2011 8:00:21 AM

Read the worm juice post.
Fissssh knows about molasses.

6/28/2011 9:13:41 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Been using molasses for over 10 years 2 ounces to a gallon of warm water

6/28/2011 1:01:20 PM

Macomb County

I'm also thinking of the implications is has for other things, like cal mag, liquid gypsum, potassium sulfate and so on growers use. It would be nice if molasses as both a buffer and absorption enhancer is true. And wonder if there are any giant growers who go the same route.

Like I wonder what Tom's extreme blend and molasses would be like then.

6/28/2011 1:24:31 PM

Macomb County

Thanks Linus.

6/28/2011 1:29:48 PM

Midway, UT

There is also some good research that shows that molasses and other sugar substances when added to the soil increase the availability of calcium to the plants. I've added molasses to my compost tea for years but this year I added turbino sugar to the patch at a rate of 4lbs to 900 square feet.

6/28/2011 2:10:11 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I use mollasses all the time. Unsulfered grandmas mollasses. I pour it into a bucket and dilute it with water then add to a canicter sprayer around the entire planting area. I use this stuff like crazy....i will say Yes it works. I find that my leaves stay a little more plumper and healthy. We put down enough junk to the patch, fertilizers, pesticides. Ive noticed the mollasses makes the leaves healthy and the soil more fertile. I love useing it and it work.

6/28/2011 3:15:10 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Google "BRIX"

6/28/2011 9:34:23 PM

long Island

I want to try the molasses. 2 ounces to a gallon of warm water, in a sprayer.

Is it good as a foliar, or should I keep it off the leaves and spray the soil only?

6/28/2011 10:20:44 PM

New Zealand

use as a foliar and soil drench

6/29/2011 6:13:00 AM

Western PA

Wally34, I have read that most are using as a drench only, because the sweet will attract aphids and also it can clog stomata.

6/29/2011 8:50:16 AM

long Island

Drench it is then. Unless of course, drench is a top secret word for foliar. LOL.

6/29/2011 8:58:43 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Molasses helps chelate some nutrients in organic fertilizers to make them more available when mixed and used as a foliar. I like to use it as a sticker for the fish and kelp. I have seen no proof or written studies that molasses plug the stomata.

6/29/2011 1:28:22 PM

Macomb County

This is a fascinating discussion because like many growers, my ammendments were washed out of my soil because of all the days and nights of rain. I tried to re-ammend as best I could. However, my 1250 Kline was suffering from a severe boron deficeny I couldn't correct organically fast enough. Now it looks like a deformed ball of curled leaves and no vines.

However, after I blasted it with Miracle Grow and Molasses on Monday morning, it's showing signs of returning to normal growth. A couple vines are starting to pop-out from
the ball.

The beauty to me is the 11th Commandment is organic and ingoranic don't mix. The second will destroy the first and we're all going to die if we don't put every company making inorganic fertilizer out of business.

But not if we add molasses and microbes to our mix.

6/29/2011 2:26:25 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I am seriously curious, as to where the 11th Commandment is? AG growers have been using both for several years!!! Most awl growers on this site, openly admit to the use of both!!! With pretty good success, I would say!!! Peace, Wayne

6/30/2011 12:17:08 AM

Macomb County

Wayne, I mean that's the general mood of the public. 100% organically grown. Now I find-out the only thing that's bad is 100% inorganically grown.

In the middle of all the raging debate, it turns out the solution for the downside of one is to add the other? I've seen combination growing and wasn't impressed by the results. The synthetic fertilizer still did harm and the organics, as good as the quality it produced, still needed more.

Now to find-out it's because they didn't know to add a little sugar? It's a startling revelation to me. But then again, I don't get out as much as I use to anymore!

6/30/2011 7:52:29 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

The make a beet based fertilizer that is organic..The New Miracle Grow Organic is also beet based...Maolasses has tons of nutrients in Micronutrients

6/30/2011 4:10:30 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

GJack, sorry if my post wasn't clearer...I certainly agree that lot's of AG growers (or Giants of any type I guess) have gone mostly (or totally) organic, w/fertilizers...but most awl (or a least a lot) use un-organic pesticides & fungicides. Peace, Wayne

6/30/2011 10:57:37 PM