Brew a “Texas-Sized” Batch of Compost Tea

This method of brewing compost tea is on a much larger scale, so you can water larger areas more efficiently.

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In my mail service onbrewing your own vermicompost tea , I used the vulgar 5 - Imperial gallon size pail for the task . While this size was good , I happen myself needing to make the tea leaf fairly often … more often than I normally had the time for . What I needed was a “ bigger operation ” . This method acting takes the compost teatime brewing to a braggy stratum . This size allows me to cover my entire ( large ) garden with some depart over for the plants in my flower / perennial bed . My favorite eccentric of compost tea is vermicompost / worm tea , but this method acting will cultivate for whatever character of compost you take to use . I scored a distich of white-hot plastic 55 - gal drum ( non - chemical used ) to practice for this labor . you could certainly use a heavy plastic trash can or even a regular rain barrel . I want to have ascendancy over where exactly the faucet / valve adhesion was . I used a memorial tablet boiler drain valve for the gap , but you may habituate whatever type you wish , as long as it ’s durable .

The lean of thing you ’ll need :

1 . A 32 - 55 gallon plastic drum , rainwater barrel or trash can2 . A 1/2″ brass boiler drain valve , threaded3 . A 11/16″ nigger exercise bit ( youmustuse this size if you are using this type of valve!)4 . galvanic exercise and mixed drill bits ( 1/8″ to 1/4″ size should be fine)5 . Electric fish tank pump ( two air tubing port preferably ) order for a 40 - 80 congius tank6 . 8 - 10 feet of 1/4″ plastic air hose tube ( for aquarium pump)7 . Cloth gallon - size paint can strainers ( a couple of old pairs of panty hosepipe or similar cloth will also work)8 . small-scale plastic clamps ( or other method of firmly closing the strainer)9 . Aquarium breeze Harlan F. Stone ( longer the better)10 . train or cord11 . 1 - 2 bottle of unsulphured blackstrap molasses ( liquid)12 . water supply to satiate gun barrel or can ( rainwater is definitely preferred over municipal water)13 . Compost or worm castings14 . Concrete cinder pulley ( 4 ) , or other method to lift gun barrel or can high enough to allow a watering can to go below itOptional : Fish photographic emulsion , seaweed , or kelp meal

Skill Level :

Easy to intermediate .

Construction / Preparation :

1 . If you are using an existing pelting barrel or methamphetamine hydrochloride can with a removable lid , your first dance step will plainly be to cut a hole large enough to put the plastic tubes , bowed stringed instrument , and air stones through . This can be 1″ to 2″ wide . In my shell , the “ lid ” was in reality part of the barrel itself , so I had to thin off the top so that it fit securely on the barrel as a hat .

2 . practise a pilot program hole some 2″ from the bottom of the bbl / can . Using your other motley bits , increase the size of the jam to about a 1/4″.

3 . Using your 11/16″ spade bit , drill the hole to that size .

4 . Using unfaltering pressure , screw in the metal kettle drain valve until the threads have engaged the plastic enough to turn it . stay turning it until you get to the close of the threads . As I said sooner , if you use thisexactsize turn , the valve will go in so well that you willnotneed any sealer around the hole .

5 . invest the cinder blocks in your garden or yard where you want the cask / can to be . This will be a lasting spot for it while the urine is in it , so choose your location wisely . position the barrel / can on top of the blocks and ensure it ’s as stage as possible .

6 . Fill the drum / can with water , leaving at least 3 - 4″ of room at the top .

Since I used between 1 - 2 cup of louse castings for the 5 - Imperial gallon bucketful setup , I used about 15 - 20 cups for this apparatus . Keep in head , I did not fill my barrel all the fashion up to the 55 - gallon mark . I like my worm tea like my coffee – inviolable ! you may certainly use whatever amount of compost you like , to make it as ‘ substantial or fallible ’ as you wish well . You ca n’t really go wrong here as far as amount goes . The regular utilization of compost tea in increase to even water will doubtlessly improve the health and emergence of your plant life and soil .

7 . satiate the strainer with the chosen amount of compost and secure it close with a tie or plastic clinch . bond the strainer to a string or other corduroy , so that it can be lowered in and out of the barrel .

8 . overlook the strainer “ teabag ” into the weewee . If the handbag float on the top of the water supply ( as mine did ) , you may add a small stone inside the strainer to slant it down . If you wanna “ kick - set out the brewage ” , you’re able to squeeze the strainer lightly to crowd the compost mixture into the piddle more quickly .

9 . Connect the air travel stones to the air hose tubing and attach the tube to the fish tank pump .

10 . give the stones / tubing into the hole in the barrel ’s eyelid until they are all down into the water . Turn on the pump .

The tubes and tune gemstone will start to make full the water with oxygen , which will percolate to the top of the urine . At this point , you are fundamentally done plant up . You ’ll want to leave the pump on for at least a day or two before before using it .

Tip : Look at the weather forecast before you start brew . I favor to irrigate my plant with the tea when they are “ thirsty ” . In other words , try not to brew your tea if it ’s just rained or you just watered . I ’ll flex off my drip irrigation system for a day or two so I have sex that the grunge is comparatively dry when I ’m employ the tea leaf .

After a duo of days , your compost tea is ready to be applied to your industrial plant and ground . I in person practice a 1.5 Imperial gallon metal watering can to implement it .

Photo/Illustration: Greg Holdsworth (All photos)

Your industrial plant and soil are emphatically “ Camellia sinensis drinkers ” , so brew away !

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