Compost tea
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Compost, garden soil and straw steeped in a bucket of water with a bubbler to make a liquid plant feed.
What You’ll Need
- 5-gallon bucket filled with water (let sit 24 hours so chlorine evaporates)
- 1 compost tea brewing bag (or a burlap/row-cover bag tied with twine; holds 5 to 6 pounds of dry ingredients)
- Optional: 1 fish tank aerator; 1 aquarium thermometer
- 1 large handful of compost
- 1 handful of garden soil
- 2 handfuls of straw
- Optional: 3–5 leaves from a healthy plant
- 1 cup fish hydrolysate
- 1 cup seaweed extract
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Directions
- Put the compost, soil, straw, and any leaves in the bag, tie it tightly, and sink it in the bucket.
- Add the fish hydrolysate and seaweed extract to the water. If you have an aerator, put it in and switch it on.
- Let it brew for about 36 hours, keeping the water between 68°F and 72°F.
- Before spraying, thin the tea by mixing 3 parts tea with 1 part water.
- Apply it with a backpack sprayer, a spray bottle to mist the foliage, or a watering can for the leaves and the base of the plants.
- Water the garden before you apply the tea, not after.
Notes
Use immediately; it loses effectiveness as it sits. Apply every 2–4 weeks in the growing season, early morning or late evening. Clean equipment and spray tank well between brews (hydrogen peroxide or ammonia), since dirty equipment can breed harmful bacteria.
Safety: Wear gloves; compost tea can carry harmful bacteria. Don’t spray it on leafy greens or produce close to harvest, and wash produce well. Fish hydrolysate attracts dogs and other animals; keep pets away from the bucket and treated beds.