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Subject: Re: plant food
From: Susan Wehe <swehe@earthlink.net>
Organization: EarthLink Network, Inc.
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 99 02:54:45
Message-ID: <MOD$990903.23269@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$990829.13257@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$990830.1443@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$990903.11195@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



For the past two seasons, I've used a TBL of sugar mixed into the soil
in the bottom of holes where I'm transplanting tomatoes and such in.
I've found that the plants seem to take off faster. I can't imagine
buying a soft drink when a much cheaper granulated sugar does the
trick. But I guess my table sugar doesn't have the same witches caldron
bubbly effect and is therefore less interesting...

susan

John Wheeler wrote:
>
> Terry Mooney wrote in message
>
> > Can plant roots absorb sugar ? If so , how would I apply sugar to my
> > plants ?
>
> "Jose Ramirez" replied:
>
> >Plants make their own food using the roots to absorb water and essential
> >nutrient minerals. We don't 'feed' plants, we give them raw materials and
> >they manufacture their sugar.
>
> However, beneficial bacteria and fungi don't make their own sugar,
> they get it from the plants they're associated with. This being a
> newsgroup about garden ecosystems, we should consider whether adding
> sugar to the soil ecosystem would be beneficial or not. Jerry Baker
> seems to think so. I don't really follow his methods, but I have seen
> him using Sprite or 7up for something like that.
>
> John D. Wheeler
> jdw27_42@iname.com