skip to main content

Organic Gardening

Compost Tea

18 years ago

The direction of a recent post went to compost tea and molassas. This is my question.

"Adding more sugary or molasses products in various compost tea soil drench recipes on your soil beds every month or so, will greatly build up soil microbial levels, which will also help better balance soil nutrient levels in the soil."

captaincompostal reported

I have a source of beet sugar sludge and thought it would make a great compost tea as mentioned above. Good idea and , if so, how would you go about making the "tea"?

Thanks for your advice.

Suz

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

robynlacy
18 years ago
my understanding is that the sugars help the soil organisms break down nitrogen in the soil much faster.... I think what was meant is, if you use compost tea, then the sugar water, the sugar will make the nitrogem available to plants much faster.
germ
18 years ago
By adding molasses to your compost tea in the brewing process actually encourages bacterial dominance in your tea. It's bacterial food. If you want to create a fungal dominance, you want to use fungal food like fish hydrolysate.

Check out this link provided by Dchall:

Here is a link that might be useful: Deuley's Compost Tea Maker
Related Discussions
Using unfinished compost in compost tea
Q
Comments (3)
What was you compost made of? Compost consisting of animal manures might have the disease pathogens that cause E-Coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and several others and if that undigested compost is used to make compost tea those disease pathogens can be present. All of the produce from your garden will need to be washed very well before using, especially if they are to be eaten raw.
...See More
Compost and compost tea
Q
Comments (6)
I'm a lazy composter. I have two bins in the garden and will probably do a third. I fill one all winter, mostly with kitchen stuff, top it off with grass, newspaper and whatever else in the spring. Water it well all summer and then let it sit for another year. I don't turn it, that would be too much work. Just water it the following summer and then that fall take the bottom stuff. Usually about 3/4. Most of it is broken down. I should probably layer more but went it is -30 out who wants too. The plants don't seem to mind. Cheryl
...See More
Compost tea instead of compost?
Q
Comments (1)
The optimal level of soil organic matter ranges from 5 to 8 percent, so at 7.4 you have a good level and not one I would start thinking I needed to stop adding OM yet. Compost teas can help if the soil is not good and healthy and the plants need a boost, but if the soil is good and healthy and the plants are growing strong and healthy spending your time and energy making compost tea is unnecessary.
...See More
Top Dressing Compost Vs Compost Tea
Q
Comments (3)
The amount of organic matter that you're shooting for will vary depending on the situation, the plant type, and who you ask but a pretty good rule of thumb is 5 to 6% by dry weight. If you put out steamed bone meal at a relatively aggressive rate of 15 lbs. per 1000 sq. feet, that would only boost the organic content by about 0.003%, or three one thousandths of one percent. That is, of course, before it even breaks down and some is lost to leaching, volitalization, plant uptake, etc. So the answer is yes but not much. Like Kimmsr, I too would top dress with compost.
...See More
smdmt
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for your input. It has really helped me understand the principles of tea making. The above link was great.
Suz
germ
18 years ago
Here is another link that has all the information you will ever need about making ACT:

Here is a link that might be useful: Soil Foodweb

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

By Matt Kilburn

Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load

GARDENING GUIDES Houzz TV: Make a Worm Bin for Rich Soil and Happy Plants

By Annie Thornton

A worm-powered compost bin that can fit under a sink turns food scraps into a powerful amendment for your garden. Here’s how to make one

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Fall Entertaining Favorites

By Laura Gaskill

Make autumn feasts a piece of cake with chic compostable plates, pretty glasses, pie accessories and more

FALL GARDENING 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden

By Therese Ciesinski

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees

GARDENING GUIDES How to Switch to an Organic Landscape Plan

By Falon Mihalic

Ditch the chemicals for a naturally beautiful lawn and garden, using living fertilizers and other nontoxic treatments

EDIBLE GARDENS Garden BFFs? Why Your Vegetables Are Begging for Companion Plants

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Foster friendships among plants for protection from pests, pollination support and color camaraderie

EDIBLE GARDENS Houzz Call: Where Are the Craziest Places You Grow Edibles?

By Annie Thornton

Basil in a bathtub, spinach stacked up a wall ... If your edibles occupy an odd spot, we’d like to know

LIFE 10 Beautifully Simple Ways to Go Greener in the New Year

By Laura Gaskill

You may just find more green in your wallet along the way

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

GARDENING GUIDES Shades of Vegetable Gardens: Growing Edibles in Less Sun

By Steve Asbell

See how one gardener produces a veritable feast of vegetables and herbs under a canopy of shade

Sponsored

More Discussions

Yellow spots on outdoor lime tree leaves

8

anyone try "Garden Soup FOR the Soil " product

5

where to find china doll dahlia

3

Help: Hollies Transplanted with Very Small Root Balls

11

Pumpkin blossoms bug

2