The Recipe for Compost TEA
Fill a 5 gal bucket half-way with a 50/50 mixture of green and brown organic material
50% green can be fresh grass clippings, fresh leaves, alphalpha, or fresh green horse manure
50% brown can be dry grass clippings, dry leaves, hay, or dry cow manure
Be sure and mash it down in the bucket and fill it half-way
Add water (rain water would be ideal) to fill the bucket to the top
Let the mixture set in the sun for 10-14 days mixing it up once a day. It will stink to high heaven but that's how you know it's good!
After 10-14 days, get another 5 gal bucket and stretch a pair of old pantyhose over the top and secure with clothes pins clipped on the edge
Then, pour the mixture into the bucket and pull the pantyhose off and set them in the old bucket.
This is your concentrated compost TEA
Dilute this mixture with water at a ratio of 4 gal water to 1 gal TEA.
Now it's ready to be sprayed on the foliage.
You can add orange oil, molasses, or liqiuid seaweed for added power.
I hope everyone enjoys their TEA!
What a great day to make TEA!!!
TEA, TEA all around!!
Arlington TX RU ended......What was that plant I took home??
LOL TJ about the TEA! Did you go to a TEA party??
Thanks TJ. I hope it doesn't smell to much after it is sprayed. My neighbors already barely tolerate the natural garden look!
sry for bumping an old thread but this seemed like the best place to ask.
My wife THINKS this plant came from the FALL RU but perhaps someone can tell me what it is;
I also came home with one from a RU in the past year or two. I put a thread out for ID and was told it was a Manihot grahamii.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/124139/
thanx sheila - I'm certain that's it.
Interesting, someone gave me a tiny one of those too.
i got a plant in a litre type bottle--i don't know if it is house plant or outdoor plant---mine needs to be transplanted -even tho it is doing well --should it be in the ground outside? or in a pot indoors?
ours is in a large-ish pot and is growing very well. Nice ,exotic tree-like form.
my wife likes it.
Carl
was it in a litre type bottle when you got it at the round up? i am wondering if it is the same as mine
I don't recall. My wife 'thinks' it came from the FALL RU. But i also remeber seeing a package of manihot seeds around here so......
ok--i looked at mine and i think it is different-thanks for responding tho!
Linda~Can you post a picture of your plant? That might help identify it.
i wish i could--i only do that when my daughter is around to help me :(
Someone gave me two of these. Its a hairy leaf and i think it has a red stem, I hope some recognize it. I had it in the sun and it started turning brown so I put one in the shade... please tell how to to care for this very interesting plant.
Sylvia
Oh boy I see a lot of things I am going to ask for next year. ;)
I would love to help with the next Arlington roundup - I could help set up or make cakes or sandwiches or pretty much anything that needs doing as long as it doesn't require strenuous activity.
Being new to gardening, I don't have much in the way of seed or plants to trade, but even without trading, it would be fun to meet a bunch of gardeners who know this area's hits and misses. :)
Absolutely!!!, I am so glad you decided to join us. I am sure there are many things you can do and we would love to have you with us.
Please stay in touch and when the next swap thread is posted we can talk about you joining us, in the meantime stay active on the Texas forum there are many interesting subjects to talk about and keep in touch with.
Josephine.
Q_G
There are PLENTY of plants to go around as many people already have crowded gardens and will collect seeds, root cuttings, etc. to bring. It usually maens more plants than places to put them!
Quilter.....
Glad you found Dave's and want to join us! We have a RU in Arlington in April and Oct usually. So keep active on the Texas Gardening forum like Josephine said and you will be sure to hear all about it when the date is set.
Meanwhile here is some photos of the last one in April that you can get a look at the faces of those that attended.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/972104/
Yes, I've noticed the huge array of topics - it's great! And I'm already looking forward to helping with the RU in October.
I have already checked in on the straw bale gardening forum, too and "lurk" in two other favorites - African Violets and Sewing and Quilting.
With regard to staying active on the forums, I'm sure I will - but I'll be chiming in a lot more with questions than with any kind of expertise. I have a lot of raw, dumb luck that passes for a green thumb with people who don't garden, but I have no real skill in this department, yet. ;)
Oh and thank you for the link to the names and faces thread - that's really great!
Have a good night! :)
Elizabeth
This message was edited Jun 26, 2009 10:32 PM
You also Elizabeth! Didn't realized it was so late...need to get to bed also.
Quilter/Elizabeth - WELCOME
This site is the best for getting your quesitons answered. My DH thinks I am a great gardener, my own opinion is not so great. There are always answers here at Dave's. Never worry about asking, We all ask!
As for the plants at the RU, I swear I bring home more than I take every time!
I think April was the first time I took more plants than I brought home. Of course I took home a statuary, numerous frog collectibles, and a planter box; none of which were my door prizes! LOL!
Recently I had a black swallowtail to release and let it dry on the statuary near the host plant bed (parsley & dill). Isn't she sweet.
This message was edited Jun 27, 2009 9:02 PM
ugh - Sheila, that picture makes me wanna brush my teeth!
lol!
Carl
Elizabeth~Welcome! Don't worry about the RU, you won't leave empty handed!!
Oh goodness, I know - gardeners are always terribly generous! But, I always like to give more than take.
Maybe I could make some potholders or little pieces of my artwork to trade. :)
Most of all, I really would just like to meet some people around here. I haven't taken the time to make friends since we moved back here and it's time for me to reach out a little. :)
How many people usually show up for the Fall roundup?
There you go! I'm sure pot holders or other things would be perfect for trading! I've only been to one fall RU and it seemed like there were about 50 people or so.
I do a lot of propagation, and I can always use quart and gallon pots, also bags of soil or perlite.
Josephine.
Oh, how fun - that's great to have so many people! :)
Josephine, thanks for the great idea!
I think the final count was 60 last year! So many sign up and plans fall though, but others show up when they hadn't planned on it.
It is a lot of work but so worth it. It gives online threads a whole different feeling when you know someone personally. It makes DG a family to meet face to face and share ideas etc.