Compost Tea Question

15 years ago

I've been away from vegetable gardening for several years, but now with all the problems with store bought produce, (has there ever NOT been problems in some form or another), I'm going to revive my garden areas and start growing again.

When I was really growing strong I built a compost tea barrel using a plastic 55 gallon barrel and an aquarium pump. This setup worked like a champ. When in operation I hung a meshed bag filled with compost and other ingredients down in the barrel and filled it with water and turned-on the pump.

My question is this:

I forget how much compost material I used in the mesh bag. Would someone in the know tell me how much material I should use for a setup like mine. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

sandhill_farms
Original Author
15 years ago
How long should I let the pump run and "simmer" the compost bag, I forget that too.

Greg
Belgianpup
15 years ago
I think the usual ratio is 1 part compost + 5 parts water. Then you dilute it further for use.

I've never mechanically aerated mine, so I can't answer that.

sue
Related Discussions
Another Compost Tea Question
Q
Comments (4)
germination, A real quick check on barrels in Ohio gave me the company listed in the link below. This place is in Cleveland but I'm not sure where you live in Ohio. You may check garden centers or places like Lowes too. Greg Nevada Here is a link that might be useful: Plastic Barrels
...See More
Compost tea questions
Q
Comments (8)
Compost tea can, for a short time, be of some benefit if a soil is devoid of sufficient organic matter but it is not s substitute for putting enough organic matter into the soil. The microherd in your soil needs a lot of organic matter to live on and that compost tea, or manure tea, will not provide enough, long term, to be of any benefit. A high nitrogen fertilizer, the most common type sold for application in the spring, will push your grass to grow even more than it normally does (grass does not need any "fertilzier" in the spring to grow) which could create problems during the normallyhot, dry days of summer, but that too can be normal since most all grasses have evolved over eons to go dormant (some people think the grass died) during those hot, dry summer days when there is little water to support growth until the fall rains start and the grasses resume growth. It really has only been since the end of WWII, the 1950's, that people have tried to keep lanws green all summer.
...See More
Intermediate Compost Tea Question
Q
Comments (4)
most likely tap water. unfortunately my tap water has gotten increasingly worse and now the ppm is sitting at around 200. With that said I am thinking a couple tablespoons of Dr. Earths tomato fertilizer(has kelp and other goodies plus 7 strains of microbes) and maybe a couple tablespoons of molasses. Robert how much compost do you put in your mix?
...See More
compost tea dilution?
Q
Comments (13)
I see this is an old thread altho there are probably a lot of new posters who have not seen it. Blucolt, I would not add compost to a rain barrel unless you have an air pump going in it or plan to use the entire barrel within a few days. I don't make compost tea but do make alfalfa tea which I believe is a similar situation with becoming anaerobic. Many people think alfalfa tea *should* smell bad but I disagree. It's OK IMO for it to ferment and smell yeasty, but when it starts to stink I just blast water in with the hose which introduces oxygen and the obnoxious smell disappears (for awhile). My method is to put one large coffee can of alfalfa pellets in a 5 gallon bucket and fill with water. I let it settle and sometimes use immediately if I need to and always refill with water. Almost every day I water a few plants with tea using one large coffee can of liquid from the 5 gallon bucket in my (3 gallon?) watering can and filling with water. The color should be, in the case of alfalfa tea, a pale green. With compost tea I would think it should be a pale brown. I then blast more water into the 5 gallon bucket introducing more oxygen. This one bucket lasts at least a week and I then spread the remaining residue on top of the soil around plants. I believe it is harmful to use anaerobic teas in concentrated form as I almost killed one of my lilacs a few years ago when I dumped an entire bucket of anaerobic alfalfa tea on it. It has recovered but it was touch and go for awhile. I apply alfalfa tea to every new plant, every time I move a plant, to any plant that looks 'poorly', when my plants need watering during drought, and to roses and other heavy feeders at least once a week. It's my main fertilizer as it encourages root health and earthworm activity. I only occasionally use it to foliar feed because I don't want to do this in bright sunlight so it's not always convenient.
...See More
sandhill_farms
Original Author
15 years ago
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
windclimber
15 years ago
If you use the ratio I use for a 5 gallon bucket :
1/2 of the barrel with compost and then fill w/water.
I areate for three days also using molasses to feed the microherd.
I am sure there is a scientific formula but the important thing I heard emphasised was that after about three days at this ratio the herd needed to be fed again.
There is a great link here somewhere.
I'll try to find it.

Tom
windclimber
15 years ago
Found it,
Forgive the link I have yet to figure out the blue lettered way to send you right to it.... duh ...

www.tauton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/brewing-compost-tea.aspx

Tom
digdirt2
15 years ago
I forget how much compost material I used in the mesh bag. Would someone in the know tell me how much material I should use for a setup like mine.

It honestly doesn't matter. You can use as little or as much as you want. The more you put in the bag, the more you will have to dilute the end product so that it is the color of weak iced tea before using. The less in the tea bag, the less you have to dilute. Also consider how you plan to use it. Foliar feeding needs to be much weaker than root drench. But don't over-complicate it. It isn't brain surgery. ;)

How long should I let the pump run and "simmer" the compost bag, I forget that too.

Again - it doesn't matter tho I find that too long gets stinky. It depends on how quickly I need it. 12 hour stuff needs less dilution than 48 hour stuff but is just as good. 72 hours is the max for benefit as far as I am concerned - after that you're wasting time and nutrients but I seldom let it go that long.

Dave
sudzy
15 years ago
Again - it doesn't matter tho I find that too long gets stinky. It depends on how quickly I need it. 12 hour stuff needs less dilution than 48 hour stuff but is just as good. 72 hours is the max for benefit as far as I am concerned - after that you're wasting time and nutrients but I seldom let it go that long.

Dave: Two questions. Is the above statement referring to aerated or non-aerated? And, about it getting stinky, (apparently that's the only type I'm good at making :)) Is stinky tea still good???? I'm been dumping mine 'cause I'm not sure. Real new at CT too. Guess, what I'm trying to find out is: can the end product EVER be bad and harmful to the plants? Thank You . Oh, I don't aerate. Sudz
sandhill_farms
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to all of you who responded, I think I remember now how to go about it.

Greg
jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
15 years ago
I am interested in this answer too. Is compost tea that has been brewing for too long harmful?
I have about 1/2 a barrell (non arieated) that has been brewing a week, and I am leaving for 2 weeks on a business trip on friday. I don't know if I will have time to use it before I leave. If I leave it and use it when I get home will it be harmful? I know it will be stinky, but that doesn't bother me.

Jenny P
digdirt2
15 years ago
Is compost tea that has been brewing for too long harmful?

Is the above statement referring to aerated or non-aerated? And, about it getting stinky, (apparently that's the only type I'm good at making :)) Is stinky tea still good???? I'm been dumping mine 'cause I'm not sure. Real new at CT too. Guess, what I'm trying to find out is: can the end product EVER be bad and harmful to the plants?

Talking straight compost tea, not manure or manured compost tea as they are different animals, ok?

Just as with compost itself, anaerobic tea isn't desirable.
Not that it is flat-out harmful any more than anaerobic compost is harmful, but it does contain undesirable bacteria, molds, and fungi so it isn't safe to use as a general spray or foliar feed even if diluted well.

Used as root drench it is ok as long as you avoid splashing it on plant leaves or using it on root crops or low-growing leafy greens where it can contaminate them with those pathogens. Both aerated or non-aerated teas can become anaerobic if brewed too long although aerated takes longer to turn anaerobic.

But honestly, there is no benefit to such long brewing times. Either way, 12-24 hour tea is perfect and then pull the bag, 48 hours if areated. And brew smaller amounts that you know you can use within that time frame. If you have a bucket or barrel that has turned anaerobic double the dilution on it and aerate it by stirring well or pouring back and forth from bucket to bucket until the worst of the odor dissipates.

Dave
sudzy
15 years ago
Thanks Dave, very much. Been real worried about using that smelly stuff. I THINK I finally understand. Appreciate your time and knowledge. :)

Compost Tea Question

Comments (11)

sandhill_farms
Original Author

Belgianpup

Related Discussions

sandhill_farms
Original Author

windclimber

windclimber

digdirt2

sudzy

sandhill_farms
Original Author

jennypat Zone 3b NW MN

digdirt2

sudzy

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Compost Tea Question

Comments (11)

sandhill_farmsOriginal Author

Related Discussions

sandhill_farmsOriginal Author

sandhill_farmsOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sandhill_farms
Original Author

sandhill_farms
Original Author

sandhill_farms
Original Author