The Virtues and Versatility of Vinegar

» Tina_Coruth - Wonderful!

Hi Tamara,

This article is jam-packed with great tips. The one that amazed me the most is to use vinegar for acid loving plants. That never occurred to me but it makes perfect sense. Thanks!

-- posted by Tina_Coruth

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» Tamara1062 - Re: Wonderful!

Thanks Tina! Glad you enjoyed the column.

While researching this article, I was continually amazed at all the varying uses for vinegar posted on the Internet.

Thank goodness for both vinegar...and the Web!

-- posted by Tamara1062

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: Wonderful!

In response to Wonderful! posted by Tina_Coruth:

Tami,

Very interesting informative article. I've put it up as the "Feature Article" for the week on the Garden COI site.

Let me play the "Devil's Advocate" for a paragraph or two. You speak of "nasty chemicals" in your article yet vinegar is a chemical and the 20% solution must be labeled as an herbicide.

Herbicides containing such as glyphosphate also a contact, non-selective herbicide as you say vinegar is, also break down into water in the soil.

Is a vinegar solution more effective and cost-effective than one containing glyphosate?

When I spray gardens with solution containing garlic and egg solids to keep away deer, customers complain of the smell Can you imagine the "stink" if I started using vinegar? But...you might make a convert out of me!

Georgene

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

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» Tamara1062 - Re: Re: Wonderful!

Hi Georgene -

You're absolutely right: vinegar is a "chemical". Everything is, of course. I guess I should change that to be synthetic vs. natural chemical, since vinegar is generally derived from plant material.

I really don't want to get into the heavily-debated glyphosphate argument. As an organic gardener, I won't use it, whether it is cheaper or not. Just a personal choice. I'm not a chemist and I won't pretend to be one.

Thanks for featuring the article - I wondered why the hit count went through the roof!

Tamara

-- posted by Tamara1062

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - Re: Wonderful!

In response to Re: Re: Wonderful! posted by Tamara1062:

Good to hear that so many readers appreciated your vinegar article

And so glad to know you are a very committed organic gardener ;)

I will check, as soon as humanely possible, on the availability of herbicide-strength vinegar at garden stores / outlets around here...and then get back to you.

Perhaps more of your readers could check in their areas and give us feedback about availability?
How about it readers?

Georgene

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

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» biogardener - More vinegar tips

The main difference between cider vinegar and white vinegar is the fact that white vinegar has everything taken out of it except the acid through destillation. Cider vinegar, if distilled, will also turn into white vinegar. Raw, however, it is rich in living organisms, like enzymes, and has all the benefits of raw apples. If you sip a glass of water with a teaspoon of cider vinegar with your meals, you will never get food poisoning, not even if the food contains salmonella.

Here is the most important trick for the gardener, and I learned it from being a potter. Keep a spray bottle of any vinegar near the sink and put a few drops on your hands after washing. You will never need lotion again and will never have dry hands any more, because the acid neutralizes the alkalinity in the soil.

I use the same spray as a deodorant. Haven't used any other in 40 years, nor do I ever have lotion in the house. Don't need either when I have vinegar.

-- posted by biogardener

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