Tips from the Potting Bench

Fall is in the air, can you feel it? Seems like it’s going to be an early fall and winter this year. The big leaf maples are already turning color and the poison oak started a while ago. Those are my two big indicators, add to that the cool almost frosty mornings we have had lately and I think it is a sure bet that fall is right around the corner. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind the break! But until then there is much to be done in the garden, like making and applying compost tea. Applied now it will bring big benefits in the spring. Here’s a quick and easy method of brewing compost tea.

We will finish up our discussion of compost this week by talking about compost tea. Once you have produced some nice finished compost, either by the hot or cold method you can amp up the microbes in it by aerobically brewing it in a 5 gallon bucket. By aerobic I mean that during the brewing process you are actively introducing air into the mix. Aerobic brewing will significantly boost the beneficial microbe populations, although air isn’t absolutely necessary, you could simply fill an old nylon, burlap bag or pillow case with a shovel full of finished compost and let it sit for a week or so in a bucket of water. My dad did this to great effect with a 55 gallon drum and a burlap bag full of cow manure. But if you really want to maximize your results, aerobic brewing is the way to go.

Here is simple homemade compost tea brewer you can put together in less than an hour. You will need an aquarium pump, some plastic tubing, a few air stones (available at most pet or aquarium stores), water, a 5 gallon plastic bucket, finished compost and a nylon or burlap bag. First set up the air pump and connect it to the air stones with the plastic tubing. Tape the air stones to the bottom of the bucket, fill the bucket with water and turn the pump on. If your water contains chlorine you will want to run the pump an hour so to blow off the chlorine before you put the compost bag in. Now take a shovel full of your best finished compost (you could buy a good quality compost or worm castings if you don’t have finished compost) and put it in your bag or nylon sock. Suspend this in the water so it is off the bottom of the bucket and brew away. Your tea is done when it turns coffee brown, depending on the temperature that will be in 12-36 hours. Now strain the tea and apply to the soil as a drench. It is always best to water thoroughly first before applying any kind of fertilizer. Compost tea must be used within 4 or 5 hours, after that the microbes run out of food and start to die off. Remember to flush your equipment with clean water.

Right now is a great time to apply compost tea to your soil. The microbes will get right to work breaking down organic matter, they will overwinter and be ready to go at it full steam once the warm spring weather returns. Compost tea is also a great way to jump start a new compost pile.