Home Uncategorized Jerry Bakers Magic Tomato Plant Food Recipe

Jerry Bakers Magic Tomato Plant Food Recipe

by Jamie
Plants in the ground!
Plants in the ground!
Feeling pretty cool,
with my Plants in the ground!
Low and behold, Utah has finally had a Sunny Saturday in May.
Praise it all…my vegetable garden has finally been planted.
Yippee!
I always get a little worn out (and sunburned) on the planting day, but once the old girl is in…she is in!
There is just something wonderful about digging a bit in the dirt.
Planting some sort of living thing.
Watching it grow into something bigger and better than it was.
Benefiting from the harvest it will bare…..
It really is an amazing cycle.
I wanted to share a little Tomato Plant Food recipe that my dear Grandmother has passed on to me. I tried it last year and my tomatoes had never been so good!  
I thought you might like to know about it. I wanted to give a little  heads up as well. I have several FABULOUS garden tomato recipes I’m planning on posting towards the end of the summer when my tomatoes are ripe. 
Canned Salsa
Canned Spaghetti Sauce
and Canned Sweet Pepper Relish…
are all on just waiting on deck.
I also wanted to mention the fabulousness of planting onion bulbs. Do you ever find yourself purchasing green onions and then having them go bad on you before you can make your
I sure as goodness do. For the past several years I have been planting onion bulbs. I plant them pretty close together and then use them for green onions. The beauty of it is…
…they don’t turn rotten in the dirt like they do in my fridge….
….if I don’t rush out to pick them, they just keep on a growing….
….they will grow in cool and warm weather……
….they are lovely to look at……
All good reasons to get some planted in the ground. Look for onion BULBS, not the seeds. I planted these about 6 weeks ago and have been using them in salads and other fine things for 2 weeks now. Give it a try!
Here are a few pictures I took today of the spring flowers and plants we have been enjoying in our yard. Keep scrolling down for the Tomato Plant Food Recipe.
Who knew that this lovely Oregano plant would come around for a second year? I was under the impression it was a one year gig. What a beauty! What should we make with it?
Magic Tomato Plant Food please do NOT feed to humans! I bet compost would taste pretty grainy. The little wood chips might get stuck in your teeth and who knows what it might do to your digestive system. I’m just sayin…leave this concoction for the red beauties. 
Yield: will feed about 6 tomato plants
Time: 5 minutes
Recipe from Jerry Baker
3 C compost/mulch/dirt
1/2 C Epsom salt
1 T baking soda
1/2 C powdered milk
1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bucket.
2. Place a handful of the mixture into the hole you are digging for your tomato plant. If you have already planted you can sprinkle a handful of the mixture around the stem of the plant and then water.

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37 comments

Tori May 16, 2010 - 3:40 am

Can you put this on the tomatoes after they have been planted? We took advantage of this nice Utah weather today too. Oh and I loved your song! 😉

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Johnny January 7, 2016 - 3:48 am

Can you put this on the tomatoes after they have been planted?

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Peggy thomas May 24, 2020 - 7:09 am

Absolutely yes! I am going to do it today. I usually put it in the hole but I didn’t have it mixed yesterday when I planted

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Kim McCann May 16, 2010 - 4:11 am

Jamie, will you just come and plant a garden for me? 'Cause yours looks fabulous. You are a very good photographer on top of being a very good cook. 🙂 Thanks for making me want to plant something. 🙂

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April May 16, 2010 - 1:15 pm

I'm with Tori, I've already planted my tomatoes. Can this mixture be used after planting them? Maybe if you mixed it with water and poured it on each plant?

Beautiful photos of your flowers!

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prerna May 16, 2010 - 1:52 pm

Plants on the ground.. Hehe..U r funny!
Congratulations on those gorgeous plants!

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Carrie May 16, 2010 - 6:51 pm

Love the “plants in the ground, plants in the ground” little ditty. Haha. That dang “song” (if you could call it that) has been in my head ever since 1st hearing it. I think I like your words a might bit better! Shoot! I wish I would have read your concotion before planting mine…cause my plants are now finally in the ground too! Next year. I love that Jerry Baker, he's got some great concoctins, ones that have caused us to purchase certian alcoholic beverages..and may I say even some chew! So, if you see me in the store buying any of that stuff, I'll just blame it on Jerry Baker. 😉 Looking forward to your tomato recipes!

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Jamie Cooks It Up! May 16, 2010 - 9:17 pm

Tori and April,
If you've already got “Plants in the Ground!” you can mix up this recipe and just sprinkle a handful of it around the base of your plants, then water and you'll still get some of the good effect. Good Luck!
~Jamie

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Kelly May 17, 2010 - 12:40 am

Jamie,
Can you add after the plant is already in the ground? Maybe around the stem?

~Kelly
[email protected]

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betty May 11, 2017 - 4:15 pm

People read it ,it says if you have already planted your tomatoes sprinkle on top of soil , and water

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Tori May 18, 2010 - 2:21 am

Is this like a plant food that you have to routinely give the plants or is it a one time thing?

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Cindi May 18, 2010 - 4:28 am

I'm wondering the same thing as Tori….is this applied only when you plant the tomatoes, or do you do feed the plant throughout the growing season with it?

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April May 18, 2010 - 9:50 am

This comment has been removed by the author.

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April May 18, 2010 - 9:52 am

Thanks Jamie, I'm going to give it a try. 🙂

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Jamie Cooks It Up! May 18, 2010 - 12:26 pm

Tori and Cindi,
Last year I only applied it when I planted the tomatoes. My Grandma has mentioned to me that you can also just sprinkle a bit of powdered milk around on the soil throughout the season. I haven't tried that, but it sounds like a good idea. Also, I have another recipe that you mix up and spray on the plants around the fourth of July or when your plants start to get blossoms on them, that seemed to work very well. It has beer in it…! Who would have thought. I'll try and get that one posted soon so you can use it as well. Thanks for your questions gals! Here's to hoping we all grow a great big crop!
~Jamie

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Nancy June 11, 2018 - 10:03 am

Jamie, would you share the recipe for blossoming tomatoes, the one with beer. Thank you

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Anonymous May 18, 2010 - 5:09 pm

Hi Jamie,

I have not got my tomato plants yet. What is the best kind to get. Their are a ton of different kinds and names. Any tips? I want the baby tomatoes as well as bigger ones.
Amy Dansie

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Tightwad Mom May 19, 2010 - 2:34 pm

I love you, love you, love you for posting this! This week is “Plant the Tomatoes Before Hubby Has A Stroke” week. I want to can oodles of tomatoes this year (last year was a bust after my dear 7 year old hosted an Epic light saber battle in the tomato jungle), so I need my plants to really grow and produce. I'm going to mix up a big batch!
I also love using the baby onions in place of green onions. You are brilliant!

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Jamie Cooks It Up! May 19, 2010 - 6:51 pm

Amy,
We usually plant an assortment of tomatoes. Brandywine, Early Girl, Beef Steak, Lemon Boy (they are yellow) and Better Boy are all good for canning and eating. For the small tomatoes we usually do both Red and Yellow Pear and Grape Tomatoes. All heavenly delicious! Good Luck!

Tightwad Mom,
A Lightsaber battle among your tomatoes! Who would have thought! May the force be with you…
~Jamie

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Anonymous June 3, 2010 - 4:49 am

what a delightful site! i came for the tomato food, but will return for the yummy looking recipies! thank you!
powdered milk, eh? who woulda thought… guess if it doesn't work, i can always host a neighborhood 'epic battle' party… lol!

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generic viagra February 8, 2011 - 1:13 pm

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Kathy Bennett March 24, 2013 - 11:44 am

Like a previous poster, I came for the tomato food, and will stay for the rest of the story. Hoorah!!!!

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Leo Trahan May 9, 2013 - 10:31 am

Thanks!

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Pat April 16, 2014 - 8:55 am

I’m going to use this formula on my tomatoes, but would like to know if I can also use it on my flowers as well? Thank you so much for the recipe..

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John Pajtas January 24, 2015 - 2:11 pm

The last two years my tomato plants have dropped their leaves after the tomatoes have gotten green. The tomatoes get ripe but the smaller ones don’t get any bigger but do get ripe. I believe I have a blight. What do I do?

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jeni November 7, 2017 - 12:28 pm

the powdered milk is a new thing but then i spray with sugar water the day before transplanting tomatoes and sugar sprinkled around plant a few days before harvest makes them sweeter – guess all the sugars in beer will work too!!

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Robert September 19, 2018 - 3:18 pm

Ran across this post, love the way you put things. From Missouri, if you have Pintrest site let me know please, might use your recipes..

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Jamie September 28, 2018 - 9:40 am

Hi Robert,
Thanks for your kind words. Here is a link to my pinterest page.
https://www.pinterest.com/jamiecooksitup/pins/
Happy cooking!
~Jamie

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Susan Coro June 17, 2019 - 7:13 am

As I copied the recipe for the tomato mix is that 1 tbs or 1 tsp. Thanks

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Mary Lou July 17, 2019 - 4:43 pm

I have been using Epsom salts for years, that is what my mom did too. Aa new problem this year has bee the deer have roamed in and eaten the main ste tops off the tomatoes. I think out of 24 they missed 4. Is there any hope for the rest of the tomatoes?

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Bruce Munck April 13, 2020 - 3:58 pm

I live in South Carolina and have had mixed, but mostly bad, results growing tomatoes. The dirt in my yard ranges from quite sandy to an almost ash-consistency. There are spots I can push my hand straight down with very little resistance and eight inches down the soil feels hot. I ran across a Jerry Baker tonics book at a Goodwill store recently and picked it up for two dollars. The tomato recipe you published is in the book along with numerous others and I have begun some plants this year using one of Jerry’s recipes. I also put a teaspoon of sugar in each hole before moving the tomatoes to their planting pots, per one of his suggestions. I still have the plants in pots, but will prepare a spot for them in the yard very soon by removing the ‘dead’ dirt and replacing it with a mixture of compost, manure, newspapers, and plant food. So far the plants are looking healthy and I have hope that they will reward me with a good harvest. I love fresh tomatoes from the vine!

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pat aitchison May 28, 2020 - 5:45 am

can you use this for any plants and veg or just tomatoes, as I have salad carrots onions tomatoes sprouts strawberrys and a few other bits groing both I beds and in the ground.

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Anita W June 4, 2020 - 12:23 pm

Years ago I read a Jerry Baker formula for the tomato hole that included a couple tea bags, some tums and Epsom salts and a garlic clove.
I’ve always wondered what benefit the tea has? But have continued to use them all to great results

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Kels April 21, 2022 - 6:32 pm

Thank you! I’m going to try this!

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Jimmy Dick August 24, 2022 - 1:36 pm

Love that Jerry baker I have so many of his books I miss seeing him on tv miss you Jerry

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Charles F Hatchell June 30, 2023 - 1:45 am

Thank you/Thank you. To those like me who loose things (like my mini collection of Jerry Baker’s Garden Secrets and Recipes, packed away somewhere, in moving boxes, miracles happen. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember his formulas to grow tomatoes. Am 76, we can all learn something, with a little help from a friend. Everyone please have a best day.

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