Compost Tea

[Bigmallly]

After doing a search & finding nothing, I wondered if it a topic that is not allowed to be discussed.

[veggiechicken]

What do you want to know BM? There are threads about various "Teas" - do you mean the stuff that dribbles out of a compost bin?

[Aberdeenplotter]

How to Make Compost Tea page 1

[Bigmallly]

I've inundated by lickle brain with info from the web but wanted personal experiences on what vegetation can be used besides comfrey & nettles. I don't want to go down the route of pumps & air stones, just basic steeping. Basically I want to know if any discarded vegetation can be used.

[lottie dolly]

almost anything will have some benefit or another,just drown all roots and,rhubarb leaves,horse tail the lot,chuck in some garlic and chilly,after all,if it rots down for compost that is deemed good stuff,then it's bound to have the same sort of benefits diluted in water,i have used said mixture and nothing to say,do not use,if fact when i used it on some brassicas about 4 years ago,it seemed to keep the white wings of,note to self,must do it again in 1013,

[veggiechicken]

I've just been goggling and found that the wrong phrase to use when searching is "weed" + "tea". Why is life so complicated

[Aberdeenplotter]

After doing a search & finding nothing, I wondered if it a topic that is not allowed to be discussed.

I've inundated by lickle brain with info from the web but wanted personal experiences on what vegetation can be used besides comfrey & nettles. .

My comment was based on your op when you said you couldn't find anything matey .

Now that I see you are looking for personal experience, I haven't used it but I know that
Westmorland & North Lancs District Association of the National Vegetable Society were entertained to a talk by a Mick Poultney F.N.V.S. on this subject on 9th October. I can try to find out more about this if you would like me to. There may have been hand outs or similar.

[Bigmallly]

Cheers AP........LD, I have also read that it is good for deterring beasties. I have a blue barrel full of rotted down cabbage, weed & rhubarb leaves, I started it about 6 months ago. I was thinking of straining it into bottles but wanted advice before spraying it on my brassicas......I know it's early days, just wanted to be prepared.

[Bigmallly]

My comment was based on your op when you said you couldn't find anything matey .

Sorry AP, I meant after doing a search on the vine......now why would I want to search anywhere else?.........

[arpoet]

I collect nettles in the spring and soak them for a week or two then add the liquid to my water butts....
I also add the liquid from the wormery.

[alldigging]

I've inundated by lickle brain with info from the web but wanted personal experiences on what vegetation can be used besides comfrey & nettles. I don't want to go down the route of pumps & air stones, just basic steeping. Basically I want to know if any discarded vegetation can be used.

What grows big and lush on poor ground?
Plants that are good at extracting nutrients. It would make sense to use anything that looked healthy and grew back quickly if you cut it down.

[veggiechicken]

I'm still confused about whether you want to feed or pest control with your potions?

[Bigmallly]

I'm still confused about whether you want to feed or pest control with your potions?

Both would be good but pest control would be a priority I guess.

[veggiechicken]

After doing a search & finding nothing, I wondered if it a topic that is not allowed to be discussed.

Both would be good but pest control would be a priority I guess.

Now I understand why you thought it could be a taboo subject
Didn't Bob Flowerpot have something to say about the banning of homemade pesticides?
Found it!!
Bob Flowerdew, a regular on Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time and the author of books on organic gardening, said: "Regulations are an ass, but they haven't led to prosecutions. I cannot recommend that anyone breaks the law, but I can point out that, in other countries, people do use coffee grounds."

Mr Flowerdew pointed out that gardeners used soft soap on plants to kill aphids, although this would also be technically illegal under EU rules. "As long as you say, 'I'm not killing the aphids, I'm giving them a wash, but oh dear they seem to have died accidentally', it's OK. It's the British way: we work our way around the regulations."

[Bigmallly]

Yes I have also read the same & yes that's why I thought it was not open for discussion.