Well, I am certainly not an expert but.....a couple of ideas.

1. You could use a plastic tarp to cover it. I don't know about your area but I got one here for $3-$4 and it is perfect. Very easy to peel back when I need moisture and vice versa.

2. You could leave it uncovered I think but you would definitely have to drill holes around the lower edge.

3. You could post on freecycle looking for a tarp or plywood. I don't know if you use freecycle but I have gotten (and given) some great stuff (including a fridge!).

Maureen

I quit making teas in open containers after I had to fish a dead bird out of one. If you can put anything over it to keep the critters out, it would probably be better. Maybe a piece of screen or cloth........you could duct tape it in place.

If I had no money and I needed a cover for a garbage can I would use a rug, sheet, tablecloth, or shower curtain...

Don't know if you have a Dollar Tree type store around you, but they sell $1 cheap plastic shower curtains that you could use to cover your can. If you're worried about them blowing off during storms (they're not the sturdiest things) you might want to put a brick or a big rock on top to hold it down.

Good ideas, here is another question, does the barrel NEED to be covered to create the tea? And does it need to be in sun? or will it still work in a shady area, or inside a building?

Jenny P

You are only going to brew this tea for 24 hours max anyway. Then you'll dilute it and use it, right? Must have a big garden to use up that much that quickly. ;)

Uncovered, yes you will get some flies and bugs etc. but as long as you don't let it sit around for days - which is a bad idea anyway - it will be fine.

It doesn't have to be covered, but it will keep bugs and stuff from getting in there...

It doesn't need to be in the sun either... you could brew it your garage or in a shed. I wouldn't brew it in the kitchen though...its not that you couldn't, I just wouldn't.

Alfalfa and manure tea are brewed for a lot longer time (alfalfa-5 days or more, manure-2 weeks or more), so they should be covered with a lid of some sort. And too, you surely don't want to brew alfalfa or manure tea indoors, the smell will make you many enemies for many days. As already stated, compost tea needs only 24 hours to get a good brew finished...

Blutranes

LOL, I would not brew it in my kitchen either! I have an old unused outhouse, and was thinking if I could put it inside there, it would be less likely to attract critters.

I just wanted to make sure it would brew properly without the lid.

Jenny P

Alfalfa and manure tea are brewed for a lot longer time (alfalfa-5 days or more, manure-2 weeks or more)

blutranes - are you talking about aerated teas? Plain old non-aerated alfalfa tea at 24 hours old is perfect stuff. What would be gained by going longer since it already has to be well-diluted after just 24 hours? If using a tea bag 24 hours maxes out the bag anyway as far as I can tell and if no bag used wouldn't you have to do a ton of filtering?

And manure tea, again non-aerated as I assumed we were talking about and using non-composted manures, after 48 hours becomes really risky for bacterial e-coli hazards and possible contamination according to many of the recent studies I have read. I know they used to recommend 1 week but 2 weeks sounds potentially dangerous to me. 24 hours gets you all the benefits and none of the risks.

Of course if the manure has been composted then we are talking about compost tea, not manure tea.

I have never aerated my teas so I am curious if that changes the recommended brew times considerably?

Dave

From what I have learned Dave, at least a week with alfalfa just to get it ripe is the minimum, non-aerated. I have kept and used alfalfa tea that was months old with no ill effects as a soil drench. Manure tea brewing from my usage is the same; some recommend brewing for seven (7) weeks before using. Never heard of anyone aerating alfalfa or manure tea; is it time for Blutranes to get out there and pump some air to the mixture? The link below is one of the sources I use when reviewing alfalfa and manure tea, as well as many others I have found with Google.

24 hours for compost either way is plenty, even less if one has some good compost. I posted a link with the week or longer suggestion for alfalfa tea some time back, I guess you missed the post. The longer brewing time for alfalfa is a plus from my experience; I rarely use manure tea, compost is a much better brew IMO. My source for manure tea may be dated, for your logic sounds right, however aged manure should be safe is my understanding. Please correct me if I am wrong in this thinking...

Blutranes

I see by the link they suggest on that page no more than a week.

Here is a link that might be useful: Alfalfa Tea And Other Delights

Blutranes, thank you! I have aged sheep manure compost, and alfalfa. I do have a can with a lid that I have been useing to brew alfalfa tea, and let it brew for a week. Then I refilled the can, and that is brewing again now. But I have a large garden, and just one is not enough!

I decided to go with the compost tea, using the sheep compost and brew it a minumum of 24 hours, in the uncovered can. Then I can keep the can near the garden I am going to use it in, and won't have to lug the buckets across the yard. Although it IS good exercise!!

I see by the link it says to use them about once every 6 weeks. Do you know, is that for shrubs? or garden plants? I plan on using these on my vegetables like tomatoes and squash, along with my roses, clematis and other perennials.

I also have a large number of fruit trees, I was thinking about using it on.

THANKS!
Jenny P

I see by the link it says to use them about once every 6 weeks. Do you know, is that for shrubs? or garden plants?

The link was for roses, however most folks have found out that alfalfa tea works on just about any plant (as a soil drench). Keeping in mind alfalfa is a great nitrogen source, I do limit my usage on fruiting plants (tomatoes, squash, melons), but put the juice to those things that need the nitrogen (corn, greens, cabbage) with good results. And too, alfalfa tea on the lawn will give one a green thick lawn that will demand attention from all that view it (along with a lot of mowing due to the growth hormone in the alfalfa). Shrubs will also call for a lot of trimming using alfalfa tea on them, thus 6 weeks may be more than one can bear due to the maintenance the shrubs will call for.

As it relates to fruit trees, I have never used alfalfa tea on my trees; I have used a brew called "bug juice" I found on the Internet. The brew is good for aging plants and trees as well as compost piles that are not performing to ones liking. The link below leads to the page that explains it clearly if you choose to read the articleÂ

Blutranes

Here is a link that might be useful: Reversing Plant Aging

Oh no, not wrong at all Blutranes. Just different approaches and as long as it works for you, go for it. ;) And it also differs if you are using it as a root drench or a foliar spray/feed as I do most of the time.

Mostly it is just a semantics thing I think. Some folks call things "manure tea" that aren't really manure tea. Manure that has been composted - meaning it has had other ingredients added to it and that mixture composted - is compost tea and has minimal risks. On the other hand, manure tea is made with just manure and so the associated risks increase greatly.

Although I know some also use fresh manure I prefer aged manure (not composted, just aged). Using fresh manure can be especially risky if aged too long or applied too heavily or if used around root or ground-contact crops or if handled without good hygiene practices. Tests show that the bacterial count increases exponentially and they ain't good guy bacteria ;). From what I have read, aerating decreases the risk but I have never gone to all the extra work and prefer instead to just brew it for 24-48 hours.

Jenny says she has "aged sheep manure compost" so I assume she means she will be making compost tea, not manure tea.

Alfalfa tea, again I use a stocking tea bag and have found that if I let it go any longer than 24-48 hours it turns aneaerobic on me. Still good for a root drench when diluted but won't work for foliar spray.

My main concern is that folks recognize that there is a great deal of difference between compost tea and manure tea and many don't. They are not interchangeable nor equally beneficial and shouldn't be thought of as such. So if a new tea user isn't clear on those differences then they should just stick with compost tea.

So original question - I think that yes, they can be made in open containers. Brew compost tea for 24 hours but if you plan to brew the alfalfa tea or make manure tea and brew it for longer than 24-48 hours then yes, they should be covered.

The usual rules of application apply - well diluted before application, used no more often than every 4-6 weeks as a root drench or every 2 weeks as a foliar feed and if sprayed, never in the bright sun or the heat of the day.

OK? ;)

Dave

You all have such good information! Thank you Dave, this clears it up for me. Yes I am making compost tea, with composted aged sheep manure.

I am not sure what "aneaerobic" means, or how to tell if this happens.

At this point I am planning to use these as a root drench.

Thank you again!
jenny P

Dave, you are the "man", you hit it right on the head.

To be clear on one point, the longer brewing time for alfalfa tea is to let it ferment; this appears to make for a great soil drench. As I said, the older alfalfa tea gets, the more powerful it seems to be, keeping in mind that is for roses, it should be diluted at least 60%-40% or more for other plants. (less is better in organics). In terms of "aged manure", I am speaking of animal manure that has aged at least one (1) year before use IMO. Again, your explanation is perfect.

As it relates to a foliar spray, I have never used alfalfa tea as a spray, compost tea does more than enough for what I have come to expect. I now know I will have to try your 24-hour brew to see exactly what it is you are talking about; however, if it is anything like the soil drench I really don't think any of my friends/neighbors could stand the results. They will thank you later (HA!)...

Blutranes

I'd hate for a bird to fall into such a vat & die...

You can always put a trash bag over the top & poke some air holes in it.

I always have "recycled" trash bags around here;
I save the more-or-less intact ones that my autumn leaves & used coffee grounds come in!

An old net-type curtain would make a fine covering to keep creatures out. I once had a cat leap into a coffee can of turpentine, so anything can happen...

"Aerobic" means that air is included in the process, either pumped in, or the mix only sits for 24 hours and uses the oxygen already existing in the water. The oxygen doesn't last too long.

"Anaerobic" means "without oxygen". With most things (esp garden things like teas and compost), it means STINKY! If your manure or alfalfa tea is stinking, it's anaerotic. Same with a compost pile that has too much green stuff (green weeds, grass clippings, etc) in it and not enough carbon (straw, sawdust, etc).

Sue

OH good explination! I will have to watch and make sure it doesn't get stinky!

So, if I am going to use alfalfa tea as a soil drench, I still need to dilute it? Do I need to dilute the compost tea too?

I have never used foliar sprays, and right now don't have plans to try it. Maybe after I figure out how to use the teas as soil drenchs, I will work on that next!

Thanks again
Jenny P

So, if I am going to use alfalfa tea as a soil drench, I still need to dilute it? Do I need to dilute the compost tea too?

That is what is usually recommended, yes. ;) Moderation in all things and if a little is good, alot is not necessarily better. ;)

As Blutranes said above at least 40-60%. Keep in mind that you are making a fertilizer. You wouldn't use a fertilizer at full strength right, because you know you could easily harm the plants. Same holds true here.

The standard recommendation for compost tea is to dilute it to the color of weak iced tea. Alfalfa tea at least 1/2 and 1/2 water to tea.

That's why I said above that you must have a big garden if you want to make it in garbage can amounts. So go easy at first, watch for results in the plants, and then gauge your rate and frequency of applications accordingly and you'll do fine.

Dave

While I do have a large garden, I didn't realize I was supposed to dilute it! Even so, 2 large garbage cans of tea might not be enough to do one round of everything! That is giving each plant (ex. tomatoe) about 1/2 gallon each. With a gallon on the larger plants, like my 10 year old rose bush.

Thanks bunches!

Jenny P (who loves learning new stuff)

Jenny P,

Alfalfa tea is famous for it's (shall we say) unusual odor after brewing for a week. That is the reason I suggested earlier to NOT brew it anywhere except away from others due to the smell. You may want to go to the "Rose Forum" and do a search for "alfalfa tea", there are many posts about the aroma of alfalfa tea, some of them are really funny. Even so, the results one gets using the tea makes putting up with the odor a minor irritation.

The Rose Forum folks are very imaginative in their ability to describe the smell of alfalfa tea. Just a heads up if you are not aware of that little bit of information...

Blutranes