Online chemical gardening suppliers?

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organicfarm San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Jun 11, 2010

Can you recommend cheap, reliable sources for organic gardening supplies? Things like Bt (bacillus), epsom salts, lime, potash? The "Big Box" stores do not carry these. There are a couple of nurseries in town that carry these and wondering how their prices compare to online suppliers.

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Ret_Sgt_Yates Sparta , TN(Zone 7a) Jun 11, 2010

Try co-op and Tractor Supply

Sarge

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Jun 11, 2010

Organicfarm, actually big box stores do sell most of those things, especially lime, Bt, potassium. It may be you are just not familiar with other names of them (trade names).

Look for lime in the "yard/grass" section, a must-have for those who like lawns (I'd suggest dolomitic lime).

Bt is sold as Thuricide (liquid form) and also as Dipel (powdered form).

Potash/potassium is available in commercial chem fertilizer as well as in "organic" ferts. It is also highly available from natural sources such as plant residues, manures and compost. Granite dust and greensand are also good sources.

With the exception of Bt I think you'll come out better buying local, shipping cost alone for bags of lime, potash (and suggested products) will zap your purse or back pocket (wherever you carry your money!).

Best,
Shoe

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) Jun 12, 2010

And Epsom Salts are in every grocery and drug store, as well as big box. Try the "medical" aisles, not the garden.

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organicfarm San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Jun 12, 2010

Thanks everyone. I completely forgot about Epsom Salts' original use! People don't use these much nowadays. I will definitely spend an afternoon to price check at least 2 nurseries and the local Tractor Supply store for the other things. I guess the price of gas for that won't match the price of online shipping costs. My tomatoes are doing great. I'm controlling the slugs with beer, although it hurts to sacrifice the brew for that. Putting it in shallow yogurt cups. Controlling the tiny aphids on everything with hot pepper and soap spray. letting the minor leaf miner damage go for now. I might try to get a barrel composter for my small yard, instead of going the chemical soil supplement route for now.

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Ret_Sgt_Yates Sparta , TN(Zone 7a) Jun 12, 2010

a good tarp and pitch frok works good in a pinch for a compost pile

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