Tumbler composter

[susiewoosie]

I have a tumbler composter that is filled with mostly grass, some paper and some household veg. There is a brown liquid coming out of the bottom that I have been collecting in a container (mainly to stop it staining my patio). Do I use this liquid or throw it away. If I use it, what do I do with it?

[snohare]

It's a high nitrogen plant food, dilute it in your watering can. Similar to worm wee, I believe.

[susiewoosie]

what type of plants would benefit from this please?

[snohare]

It will depend on what exactly is breaking down in your compost, and to what degree; basically, what goes in is what comes out. But my experience is that the nitrogen from say grass cuttings, breaks down fairly rapidly and that the goo is good for watering leafy crops as a result of that; although I would be inclined to use it on say tiny seedlings as well, just as a stimulant/feed to help them create more leaves, same as I do with Seaweed Mix or worm wee. (I'd usually water from below, there, otherwise it might be inclined to encourage fungal diseases.)

[susiewoosie]

Would peas and beans benefit from this or are they the wrong sort of plants?

[snohare]

At the moment they are putting on leaves, so they need nitrogen, so it might well help. At worst, all that will happen is that you are not feeding them what they are short of, so they don't grow any faster than without it. The only thing you have to watch is to not overwater your plants !

[Rocketron]

Would peas and beans benefit from this or are they the wrong sort of plants?

Peas and Beans produce nitrogen, I don't think they need feeding with it.

[snohare]

Doh ! Homer Simpson moment !! Yes, quite right Rocketron. Although I daresay younger ones may well benefit from it until the beneficial bacteria are in sufficient numbers to produce all that they need. Do the bacteria in the root nodules have to be there for the plants to absorb nitrogen, or do they just give an added advantage ? I think it is the latter, but now I come to think of it, I'm not sure.
In case you are wondering Susie, legumes like peas and beans have symbiotic bacteria that develop in little nodules on the roots and enable them to absorb nitrogen in forms that other plants can't. I am wondering if perhaps it is the lack of these bacteria to begin with that is the limiting factor for the speed of growth.

[susiewoosie]

I love this site. I learn so much that I've just had a conversation with my non growing neighbour and I sounded quite competent

[snohare]

my non growing neighbour

That'll be too much carbon and not enough nitrogen, Suzie !

[susiewoosie]

That'll be too much carbon and not enough nitrogen, Suzie !

I just splurted pepsi max all over my computer LOL