Seaweed/Compost tea

What to use? When?

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canadianplant
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Seaweed/Compost tea

Post by canadianplant » Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:27 am

Just wondering if anyone here has used concentrated seaweed (liquid, or dried "mix it yourself"), compost tea or a combination of both.

Ive read that seaweed is good as a foliar spray, as well as feeds soil organisms while putting in some micronutrients into the soil. Ive also read that it helps with disease resistance, cold hardiness and fruit set. I believe I have also read that it helps the plant uptake nutrients from the soil. The thing is, it apparently isnt a "Fertilizer", rather more of an additional helper.

As for compost tea, its basically concentrated bactera and compost nutrients. Basically you "Steep" compost. You toss it in a sheet, tie it up like a tea bag and throw it in a bucket. You then fill the bucket half with water, and a teaspoon of molasses. You then either put an oxygen pump in it, or stir it every few hours. Even fully concentrated, you can apparently apply it directly as a foliar spray or as a fertlizer. Ive also read that it can help fight against fungal problems with plants, and can be used as a treatment for minor diseases. Its also used to feed the soil life, as well as get the soil bacteria/fungus (mushrooms) levels back up.

Anyone use one or the other, or both?


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Cameron_z6a_N.S.
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Post by Cameron_z6a_N.S. » Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:37 pm

I've used concentrated seaweed, but have heard of both. One plant that apparently isn't a big fan of seaweed is bamboo; seaweed is supposed to be too high in salt content for them!
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canadianplant
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Post by canadianplant » Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:49 am

I never heard of that, but when you think about it it does make some sense.

Thanks for the input
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seedscanada
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Post by seedscanada » Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:04 am

I read about a fella that used the compost tea in his veggie garden. His plants were double or triple sized and yield was record setting... also he was in higher latitudes, USA. Have not tried it myself.
BUT, what I do, in the warm months is this. I take banana peels and bananas bruised and gone soft, blend them up with water to make a banana smoothie. I water my outdoor bananas with this to add nutrients to their soils.
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canadianplant
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Post by canadianplant » Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:17 am

Thanks Adam

What you describe is basically the same thing, with the exception that in compost tea the organisms are allowed to grow before application rather than after.

Ive read quite a bit about compost tea, but its much easier to talk to someone who has done it themselves.
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 » Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:39 am

Years ago when I had a huge veggie garden, I collected cow manure from the farm across the street.
Placed it into a burlap sac, suspended into a garbage bucket of water.
After filling with new water and letting it sit for a day, ready to use again.
Worked great.

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