Tomatos and Tea Leaves?

[domart]

I read somewhere that using used tea leaves in the soil will help your toms !!! is this right? if so at what stage do you add the tea leaves ? and how much? We have been saving used tea bags for a few weeks now so hopefully i can re use them all.

[Creemteez]

Hi Domart,
I confess, I have never heard that tealeaves on their own are particularly good for tomatoes. I put all my used teabags in the composter and they rot down nicely in there. I would have thought that the tanic acid from unrotted teabags might be a bit strong for some plants. You could do a bit of an experiment and try putting teabags under some of your tomato plants (as water retainers), some on top of the soil around the base of some as a mulch, but personally I'd go with starting a compost bin and putting them in there.
Sorry I can't be of more help!

[Leeds_lad]

My granma swears by putting tea bags around her plants, but these are general flowers and shrubs though, and they seem to thrive. Guess it's another of those "old wives tale" gardening tips

[Two_Sheds]

Tea leaves don't have any magic properties, just add them to your compost heap (torn first)

[rana]

We used to throw all of our (loose leaf) tea leaves on to a Dahlia plant outside the back door. Don't know if it was the acidity or the nutrients released by the breakdown of the tea but the Dahlia thrived. For tomatoes i'd stick to regular tomato feed.

[Jono]

I've put tea bags in hanging baskets to help retain moisturing, but not heard of leaves being good for toms.

[Polly Fouracre]

If you have dogs then the best thing for tomatoes is the contents of your vacuum cleaner. Save it up until the first fruits form then put thickly around the plants and water well. It, apparently, acts as a feed and mulch. I dare say cat hair would work just as well or, maybe just dust from the vacuum.

[BUFFS]

i have always used tea leaves/bags around the bases of my roses,works a treat,thats all they get and seem to thrive on it..

[Sylvan]

If you have dogs then the best thing for tomatoes is the contents of your vacuum cleaner.

Wow! I'm spending half my life at the moment removing dog hairs from the tomato seedlings. I'll just start leaving them then.