Mik'Ta,

Are you an organic gardener who doesn't believe in using chemical nutrients? If so, by all means sterilize the manure tea. Non sterile conditions can lead to several seedling problems, including the dreaded damping off.

If your gardening beliefs allow it, the use of pure chemical nutrients works better. Use a urea-free formula like Peters Specialties African Violet Plant Food 12-36-14 or Better-Gro Orchid Plus Water Soluble Orchid Food 20-14-13. Both formulas include minor trace elements. I use both of those products with good results. The Peters formula contains more phosphorus than is necessary for indoor seedlings, so sometimes I supplement it with a little pure potassium nitrate.

Be sure to dilute the nutrients in water to the recommended levels before applying. I water my tiny seedlings with one-quarter strength solution (¼ teaspon per gallon) and increase that to one half strength and as the plants get larger, I go to one teaspoon per gallon. For indoor use I don't go stronger than that. For outdoor in-garden use you can go all the way to one tablespoon per gallon, and you can safely use urea-containing formulas like Miracle-Gro.

I specified urea-free for indoors because the sterile growing mediums do not contain the soil organisms necessary to break urea down into usable nitrates and, besides not supplying usable nitrogen in sterile conditions, the urea can accumulate to harmful levels.

If you plan to grow your seedlings to a large size as I do (my tomatilloes are in bloom now and won't be set out for another month), your growing medium's supply of calcium will be exhausted, and you will need to add some calcium nitrate to avoid calcium deficiency symptoms such as wrinkled leaves, new leaves recurved, abnormal dark green color, death of the new leaves at the tips and margins, eventual death of the growing point, and severe stunting of the plant.

If you are an organic gardener, just ignore all of my chemical advice. As you have probably guessed, I am not an organic gardener.

MM

...I don't wish to be hung by my ears or toes...I only look for nutrient analysis and ratios with some considerations integrating fertilizers with water characteristics...outplanting (to the garden site) is totally another realm (for me), with paramount considerations towards soil building....

furthermore....I try to understand the nutrient requirements of early stages of seedling development...One can't fabricate a nutrient requirement if it doesn't exist within the proper ratios of a given supplement. Excessive nutrients out of proportion will also cause nutrient deficiencies....

pickwick,
I just picked up fish emulsion that I dilute in a gallon of water for my seedlings.
Sally

yes..I use fish emulusion along with other organic amendments (alfalfa tea,for an example) in my garden.My delphiniums respond well...
best of luck

Yes, I do grow all my plants organically. I make manure tea for many of the vegetables and flowers that are outside in my garden. I use composted horse manure for the tea. I'm not worried about any weed seeds in the manure right now because my horses are are grazing on grass that hasn't seeded. My concern would be any pathogens that could be harmful to the seedlings.

What would be the best way to sterilize the manure tea? Should I sterilize the manure by baking it before I make the tea? Or should I just bring the manure tea to a boil when it's finished?

Thanks for all the help!
Mik'Ta

hi
- manure tea doesn t seem very adapted, as you have a real risk for pathogens.
- compost tea could probably be beneficial, with still a small risk for pathogens
- stinging nettle tea could be of use
- others (alfalfa tea...)

if there is a need to sterilize the liquid before use, i don't see the point of using the sterilized product. isn t it for the living part, as much as for the mineral/trace elements part that we use organic teas?
pierre

I got a old microwave I saved just to sterilize my soil. I use a cardboard box that will turn around inside. I set timer for 25 minutes. If cow is wet just put a hand towel under box. It will be smoking hot. If I plant seedlings. I put a little at the bottom of the containers. Then fill up with potting mix. It just safer this way. Because seedling need some extra food when roots starting growing. About 1/2 cup of cow per tray. I use a clear 4" cover on top of my seeds. I keep removing it to get air but not long like 20 minutes. 2 to three times in 24 hours. To keep from them damping off. If gets dry use a sprayer to wet the seedlings. Tomatoes don't like their foliage wet. Happy gardening.