Are the materials already composted and how much are you making?

tj

the compost is mostly fresh, less then a week old.

Im making about 4.5 gal tea with quite a lot of initial compost in it. Cant say how much for sure because I kept adding, till well...it became impossible to stir, oops, so I took some out.

Compost tea doesn't have scientific evidence of suppressing or control pests or diseases, but worm tea does contain microbes and suppresses diseases and is another alternative to organic liquid fertilizer.

I thought all the latest studies show that using the compost straight in the garden as a top dressing does just as much as diluting it down as a tea would do.... and that a majority of the beneficial bacterial growth quickly dies once you apply it to the ground since it’s now longer in the tea being fed. ? Seems like more work that isn’t needed.

@Nevermore44 - 6a The benefit of compost tea is that it is basically a liquid fertilizer. It has a more immediate effect on the plant as opposed to top dressing as top dressing compost takes a few months before it starts to decompose and start feeding the plants. The way i look at it right now is; It’s better than giving chemical fertilizer.

If instead of making manure or compost tea you apply your choice in the garden; when it rains or you water you have instant tea. Viola!

I've found that if I use manure the fall or late winter before the season that there's no need to apply any fertilizer the remainder of that season.

I though the same was tested and shown that plants can't take up all that many or all nutrients via foliage uptake? it just seems like extra work to dilute ... and maybe lose nitrogen via off gassing .... to then spread it around the garden. I'm too lazy for that!