Molasses—Feed Carbohydrates and
Other Nutrients to Soil Microorganisms
Molasses is a sugar byproduct created during heat crystallization of commercial sugar. Lower grades of this brown liquid residue is called blackstrap molasses. Better grades are used in cooking, confectionery and rum.
Unsulfured blackstrap molasses can be used as one of your soil improvement tools. You can use it in liquid or dry form.
Both give the same excellent results—nutrients for the microorganisms in the soil.
They're an excellent source of carbohydrates, sulfur and potassium, which are all essential to soil life.
If you combine molasses with seaweed and fish emulsion, it produces an instant feed for plants as well.
Dry Fertilizer
The dry fertilizer made with molasses uses the remains of grains and soy processing. The grain particles are dipped in the syrup and dried. These coated particles can be sprayed and coated with liquid molasses and dried again.
Apply to landscape and gardening soils at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet (9 kg per 93 square meters) for best success.
Liquid Fertilizer
As a liquid fertilizer, molasses is usually applied at 1 to 3 tablespoons (15-45 ml) for each US gallon (3.8 liters) of water.
This provides an estimated NPK of 1-0-5. However, as with many organic supplements, NPK is less important than the other macronutrients and the micronutrients that the molasses provides.
Combine it with other organic fertilizers to ensure that your plants have the most complete range of nutrients possible.
Disease Control
Use the liquid type to assist in organic disease control. Try this formula I found on the internet.
Use 8 oz. (500 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 8 oz. (500 ml) of molasses to one gallon of water. Mix the molasses into a small amount of hot water, add the peroxide, then add enough water to make a gallon.
Spray this on your entire garden every 7 to 10 days. It feeds beneficial bacteria that destroy many disease organisms.
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