Compost Tea-- Grows Larger Veggies??

Melissa569 · April 28, 2010

I was just goofing around on YouTube, researching ways to grow larger and more bountiful veggies... I came across a video about some guy up in Alaska named John Evans, who grows world record giant veggies, and he sells the compost tea (which contains lava ash nutrients) that he says is his big secret. Not the alaskan sun.

Although I think you can easily make your OWN compost tea for cheaper, I have to say, I agree that a very good compost, or at least compost tea, and lava ash nutrients is a big key in growing very large vegetables.

Before I moved to the city, I lived up by Mount Shasta in northern California. That whole area is just swimming in lava ash! I had a huge vegetable garden on our family property. So did the man who lived next door to us. I never used compost tea, but he kept trying to convince me to... I was lazy, I admit. And I didn't listen. But he was really gung-ho about it.

Well, my veggies came out hm-hm, so-so, kinda average, or even a bit small. HIS vegetables were pretty big though! He grew huge pumpkins, FAT tomatoes, and zuchinnis about as big as a man's arm! Big carrots too.

I'm thinking of brewing a good compost tea for myself, and using HUGE pots on my back patio (I live in an apartment). Any ideas for what to mix in the tea? If I could get John Evan's stuff for free, I would, hahaha. But I jsut don't have the money.

My nieghbor made his compost tea by growing half of his plants in the ground, and the other half in those giant plastic garbage bins, raised up off the ground, and filled with local lava-ashy soil, and aged manure from local farms. The farmers gave it away for free, all they asked was that you show up there and shovel it away yourself, guess that was payment enough for them, haha. Then he saved the drippings from the big bins after watering in a huge tray below, and used it to water all his plants.

Any other ideas?

**mdvpc** · April 28, 2010

You can make your own compost, even living in an apt, with a nature mill composter. I have 2 of them-they are still working out some of the bugs, but mine work good. You can make your own compost tea then. Another way if you dont want to make your own compost, and you dont have a very good source of compost, you can purchase some Cranford pelleted compost, a Cal. company, and brew your compost tea with that. I have done both.

Melissa569 · April 28, 2010

Hmmm, I wonder if my local Ace Hardware sells good compost, or even the one you suggested? I'm gonna have to ask them... I think maybe that might be the easier way for me to go, having limited space

**mdvpc** · April 28, 2010

Melissa: Be careful what compost you buy. There is compost and then there is compost. The Cranford is good-you get the pellets-put about a cup of them in the 5 gallon bucket with water, use an aquarium pump, wait 24 hours or so, and you have compost tea. You can also put the pellets directly into your potting soil.

http://www.cranfordinc.com/Products....ated%20Compost

Qweniden · April 29, 2010

I am not personaly convinced that bigger=better when it comes to veggies. I want a higher yield per plant but not nessisarily bigger fruits. This is especially true when it comes to zuchinni. They are at their best when just about 4 inches long. Keep picking them at this size and you will actually get more yeild overall than if allow the zuchinnis get grow huge and big zuchinnis arent very tasty.

velikipop · April 29, 2010

Also, please be careful with applying compost tea to vegetables. Depending on what is used as compost there is a possibility of pathogenic contamination, which can make you sick. The latest issue of Organic Gardening magazine has an article on compost tea with a basic recipe and a warning about applying it to vegetables. I brew a tea from alfalfa meal and kelp meal that my roses love as do the veggies.

salix · April 30, 2010

Alex, how does your alfalfa and kelp meal tea recipe differ from the alfalfa and epsom salt tea recipe for roses? ...or is the kelp meal just added? TIA

velikipop · April 30, 2010

Willa

I just add about a cup of kelp meal for an extra boost, as well as some molasses.

rick9748 · May 5, 2015

Do any of you use humic acid in your tea and how much per 5 gal. of water?

Lindalana · May 5, 2015

I use humic acid in all my compost tea making as it does de-chlorinate water. When making compost tea it is important. I dilute it per SmilingGardener recommendations-
Before application, first dissolve the powder in warm water at 5 Tbsp (1/3 cup) per quart of water. That quart will cover 2000 square feet, but doesn't have to be used right away - you can store it.

When you're ready to use it, mix that liquid with at least 50 times as much water, which is again 5 Tbsp (1/3 cup) per gallon of water, or 3 gallons of water for each 1 cup of the liquid."

Blueaussi · May 5, 2015

Chlorine out gases all on its own. Just leave the water out uncovered for 24 hours or so.

Lindalana · May 5, 2015

Blueaussi, I agree, however there is also chloramine. Per manual of AACT I follow Dr Ingham instructions and use humic acid, I have KIS brewer and again per instructions run it with only humic acid added for 30 minutes. I do not have scope yet so it is hard to know how helpful brewing process is.
I get my compost from Keep It Simple -KIS- they have great bacterial and fungal compost. I also have my vermicompost bins.

beeman · May 5, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindalana

That quart will cover 2000 square feet, but doesn't have to be used right away - you can store it.

I cannot agree with the above. Compost tea is aerobic and storing it for any length of time two things will happen.The bacteria will use up all the food and die off leading to anaerobic conditions, both of which will cause problems when applied.
It is generally recommended to use within a few hours when the brewing stops, ie, when the air pump is removed.

Lindalana · May 5, 2015

Beeman, sorry for confusion- Phil is taking about storing humic acid- it usually comes in powder form, so one can dilute it some and then store and then dilute again for actual application, which is what I do.
Yeah, it is a bit of a hassle to time AACT application right- now I have to apply it after some serious rain but my time is up so gotta go LOL

wormgirl · May 6, 2015

Another option for making compost in an apartment setting is vermicomposting. I have only had limited experience making my own compost but the worm compost turned out the best of all. (ETA: Sorry, didn't realize OP was from 2010...)

Soil Food Web folks are a great resource. I used to be into this back when there were only 2 books. I see there are a lot more now! I used to have The Soil Biology Primer and Teaming with Microbes - wish I still did, but I think I lent them to someone (otherwise known as "gave them away") when I didn't have a place to garden.
http://www.soilfoodweb.com

I just checked out the Cranston pelleted compost, because it seemed interesting, but link was from 2010. There doesn't seem to be any way to buy the product. Online store not working, email submission form didn't work, Google can't find anyone that carries it. I emailed but don't actually expect a reply. Anyone know about the status of the product?

April 28, 2010	#1
Melissa569 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Northern CA mountains Posts: 25	Compost Tea-- Grows Larger Veggies?? I was just goofing around on YouTube, researching ways to grow larger and more bountiful veggies... I came across a video about some guy up in Alaska named John Evans, who grows world record giant veggies, and he sells the compost tea (which contains lava ash nutrients) that he says is his big secret. Not the alaskan sun. Although I think you can easily make your OWN compost tea for cheaper, I have to say, I agree that a very good compost, or at least compost tea, and lava ash nutrients is a big key in growing very large vegetables. Before I moved to the city, I lived up by Mount Shasta in northern California. That whole area is just swimming in lava ash! I had a huge vegetable garden on our family property. So did the man who lived next door to us. I never used compost tea, but he kept trying to convince me to... I was lazy, I admit. And I didn't listen. But he was really gung-ho about it. Well, my veggies came out hm-hm, so-so, kinda average, or even a bit small. HIS vegetables were pretty big though! He grew huge pumpkins, FAT tomatoes, and zuchinnis about as big as a man's arm! Big carrots too. I'm thinking of brewing a good compost tea for myself, and using HUGE pots on my back patio (I live in an apartment). Any ideas for what to mix in the tea? If I could get John Evan's stuff for free, I would, hahaha. But I jsut don't have the money. My nieghbor made his compost tea by growing half of his plants in the ground, and the other half in those giant plastic garbage bins, raised up off the ground, and filled with local lava-ashy soil, and aged manure from local farms. The farmers gave it away for free, all they asked was that you show up there and shovel it away yourself, guess that was payment enough for them, haha. Then he saved the drippings from the big bins after watering in a huge tray below, and used it to water all his plants. Any other ideas? Last edited by Melissa569; April 28, 2010 at 08:56 PM.

April 28, 2010	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	You can make your own compost, even living in an apt, with a nature mill composter. I have 2 of them-they are still working out some of the bugs, but mine work good. You can make your own compost tea then. Another way if you dont want to make your own compost, and you dont have a very good source of compost, you can purchase some Cranford pelleted compost, a Cal. company, and brew your compost tea with that. I have done both. __________________ Michael

April 28, 2010	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Melissa: Be careful what compost you buy. There is compost and then there is compost. The Cranford is good-you get the pellets-put about a cup of them in the 5 gallon bucket with water, use an aquarium pump, wait 24 hours or so, and you have compost tea. You can also put the pellets directly into your potting soil. http://www.cranfordinc.com/Products....ated%20Compost __________________ Michael

April 29, 2010	#6
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	Also, please be careful with applying compost tea to vegetables. Depending on what is used as compost there is a possibility of pathogenic contamination, which can make you sick. The latest issue of Organic Gardening magazine has an article on compost tea with a basic recipe and a warning about applying it to vegetables. I brew a tea from alfalfa meal and kelp meal that my roses love as do the veggies. __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

April 30, 2010	#8
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	Willa I just add about a cup of kelp meal for an extra boost, as well as some molasses. __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

April 29, 2010	#5
Qweniden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 267	I am not personaly convinced that bigger=better when it comes to veggies. I want a higher yield per plant but not nessisarily bigger fruits. This is especially true when it comes to zuchinni. They are at their best when just about 4 inches long. Keep picking them at this size and you will actually get more yeild overall than if allow the zuchinnis get grow huge and big zuchinnis arent very tasty.

April 30, 2010	#7
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Alex, how does your alfalfa and kelp meal tea recipe differ from the alfalfa and epsom salt tea recipe for roses? ...or is the kelp meal just added? TIA

May 5, 2015	#9
rick9748 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: south carolina Posts: 175	Do any of you use humic acid in your tea and how much per 5 gal. of water?

May 5, 2015	#10
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	I use humic acid in all my compost tea making as it does de-chlorinate water. When making compost tea it is important. I dilute it per SmilingGardener recommendations- Before application, first dissolve the powder in warm water at 5 Tbsp (1/3 cup) per quart of water. That quart will cover 2000 square feet, but doesn't have to be used right away - you can store it. When you're ready to use it, mix that liquid with at least 50 times as much water, which is again 5 Tbsp (1/3 cup) per gallon of water, or 3 gallons of water for each 1 cup of the liquid."

May 5, 2015	#11
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	Chlorine out gases all on its own. Just leave the water out uncovered for 24 hours or so.

May 6, 2015	#15
wormgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 245	Another option for making compost in an apartment setting is vermicomposting. I have only had limited experience making my own compost but the worm compost turned out the best of all. (ETA: Sorry, didn't realize OP was from 2010...) Soil Food Web folks are a great resource. I used to be into this back when there were only 2 books. I see there are a lot more now! I used to have The Soil Biology Primer and Teaming with Microbes - wish I still did, but I think I lent them to someone (otherwise known as "gave them away") when I didn't have a place to garden. http://www.soilfoodweb.com I just checked out the Cranston pelleted compost, because it seemed interesting, but link was from 2010. There doesn't seem to be any way to buy the product. Online store not working, email submission form didn't work, Google can't find anyone that carries it. I emailed but don't actually expect a reply. Anyone know about the status of the product? Last edited by wormgirl; May 6, 2015 at 12:41 PM.