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maine USA

I have read a lot of posts that indicate the value of using compost teas, as well as recipes. What I have not been able to find is how often is it used. Also is this used in conjunction with fish/seaweed emulsion or instead of. thanks Kathy T.

9/29/2005 11:44:14 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Kathy, How often to spray your plants with tea depends on how healthy your garden is and recent weather conditions. Other factors include re-appling teas following killing pesticide use.

Start when plants have developed their first set of true leaves. In my garden, I spray my plants every 10 to 14 days from spring to mid-September.

Add foliar micro-nutrients, like kelp or alfalfa meals and beneficial fungi shortly before application. Use the tea right away, within one hour if possible.

9/29/2005 1:02:14 PM

maine USA

thanks Kathy

9/30/2005 12:11:19 AM

Scotland, UK

What is compost tea? What does it consist of?

Thanks.

Bill

9/30/2005 11:30:41 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I spray compost tea on my patch once a week. This year I used alot of alfalfa meal compost tea. My plants looked very good. I had a guy here last wek looking at mu pumpkin and he said he never sen plants looking so great at this last in the season

9/30/2005 2:17:54 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

sutt, try doing search for compost tea on main board...just a nu-b here but when I get overwhelmed that is what I do. Lots of great info if you go lookin for it. I think they put some compost and other stuff in a bucket with aeration for several days and it does a magic foaming superific transformation thing that is good for your plants. Peace Wayne PS Use it right away.

9/30/2005 8:17:51 PM

Scotland, UK

Hi! Wayne,

Thanks.

I have already tried that but I can't find the "recipe" anywhere.

Bill

10/2/2005 4:13:07 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sutt, try this and see if it is still there...I printed it a couple years ago. Very simple set up and I am pretty sure others add more stuff than in this recipe. Hope this helps.

www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00030_pe.asp

10/2/2005 6:41:56 AM

Scotland, UK

Thanks, WSM, I went to the link and found the recipe. I won't be able to get molasses. So the tea is a non starter for me.

Bill

10/2/2005 12:58:40 PM

ENGLAND

Bill
I have had massive problems with trying to obtain the same Black Strap Molases as we see mentioned in a lot of Posts on here. If you know anyone in the Animal feed Industry then they may be able to help you out but i have found it near impossible to obtain. I have made many calls to the few Animal feed blenders we have in the UK and been told that they are not able to sell any to the general public. The nearest product that we can openly get to Black Strap Molases is sold as a feed additive for horses but contains presertives and a few other chemicals. If any other UK Growers are reading this then please chime in on this if you know of a supplier of Pure Black Strap Molases.

Regards
Mike

10/2/2005 1:29:41 PM

Scotland, UK

I thought it would be difficult to get molases as it not something I have ever seen for sale. I will ask around and see if I can source any.

Bill

10/2/2005 1:52:00 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Just a nu-B and don't know what it might be, but there has to be a substitute for the molasses. From what I understand the molasses is food for the developing microbes in the tea. There has to be something else that they eat. Maybe DocGipe will chime in and help us out. He is an avid compost tea brewer I think. Peace Wayne

10/2/2005 9:34:28 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

hi all just a though you can go to grocery or health food store and get small bottles of molasses,here in the states breer rabbit makes it anyway human molasses or molasses made for making candy and cookies will work in compost tea if you cant get black strap molasses just a thought

10/2/2005 10:42:51 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Molasses is not required for compost tea. Personally I never use molasses in my tea. My recipe is 1 pound of compost and 2 cups of alfalfa pellets per 5 gallons of water. Brew for 72 hours minimum. Drench full strength, or dilute by 1/2 for foliar.

10/3/2005 8:42:29 AM

maine USA

Why blackstrap molasses and not any other type? A special ingredient?

10/7/2005 12:54:42 AM

Montoursville, PA

You may search this site, for excellent talk and posts, on the use, of black strap molasses. You may do likewise using Google.

North Country Organics web site shows the test results of an aerobic tea made with their suggested basic blend, of support products. They may be the only firm that posts the output, of their equipment and their methods. They use a small amount, of molasses, to feed the biology, in the tea.
I'm making and selling 50 gallons at a time. Six ounces per 50 gallons made at 76 degrees temperature works best for me. I think one ounce, of molasses, was the five gallon molassses factor shown on their site.

They do not reccommend animal foods as a tea component because, in most the salt content, becomes a negative component that, in fact, hinders biological development, of the highest quality aerobic tea, you might achieve without the salt. If you apply a lot, of tea, one would not want any salts or as little as came along natrually with the manure. Many, of those salts, are pass through from the cattle feeding programs.

10/7/2005 12:41:35 PM

Montoursville, PA

Some one ask........ Black Strap Molasses is a carbohydrate. It contains a dandy collection, of other goodness your patch will use. Any carbohydrate will feed and fuel your bacteria. The other carbs for the soil as well as our human bodies do not provide the other qualities contained in molasses.

10/7/2005 12:48:09 PM