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Germany/Bavaria

How much CT must I use for 4-5 pumpkin plants.
Every plant has 50-60 m² at disposal.
I want to spray the tea on the leaves.

P.S. Has anybody a C.T recipe for me?There are so much but I don t know which I shoul try.

Thanks
John

2/19/2008 2:51:31 PM

Seattle, WA

John,

The amount of tea you will need to use will depend on the quality of your tea, meaning how many of the beneficial organisms you have present. If you tea is well made, 5 gal. would be more than enough for a single application. You could add up to 25 gallons of water to give yourself a more even application.

If you tea has fewer organisms you will need to apply more of it. As for recipes, they will vary in amount depending on the amount of aeration you're pushing (your dissolved oxygen levels).

I know it sounds complicated, but once you get the procedure established correctly, it becomes very simple.

~Tad

PS: I think there's already posts on here for brewer info. and recipes if you go back on the list.

2/21/2008 1:54:12 AM

maine USA

Tad is the application you are speaking of for the 4-5 plants or per plant? thanks Kathy

2/21/2008 1:54:09 PM

Seattle, WA

For 4-5 plants, I think 5 gallons of well made tea would be more than sufficient. I would probably add 5-10 of water to the tea for an even application. I'd probably apply more frequently (weekly or every 2 weeks) because your pumpkins grow so quickly.

Typical application rates are 5 gal./acre for foliar sprays (up to 5 ft. in height) or 20 gal./acre for soil drenches. You guys are well under this in terms of square footage, but you have higher requirements due to the nature of your growing cycle. I think more frequent applications would be more beneficial than spaced out higher quantity applications.

~Tad

2/22/2008 12:35:25 PM

maine USA

Thanks Tad. You have done a great job of adding great information to the compost tea topics on Big Pumpkins. thanks again Kathy

2/22/2008 12:58:39 PM

Germany/Bavaria

Yes ,thank you very much Tad!
Great job!

Thanks
John

2/22/2008 2:15:41 PM

Seattle, WA

I just want to commend you guys for trying organics in your growing. I hear more and more data every day about the effects of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides on our soil, water, and quality of our food. It's great that you're moving away from that mentality towards something that's much healthier for the environment.

I had someone stop by our booth at the NW Flower and Garden Show this weekend, and her husband used to spray pesticides on vegetables for a living. He now has lesions all up and down his arms that he can't get rid of. And this is on the food we're eating!

Best of luck this season, hope the next world record comes from an organic grower!!!

~Tad

2/24/2008 1:48:29 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

"The amount of tea you will need to use will depend on the quality of your tea, meaning how many of the beneficial organisms you have present. If you tea is well made, 5 gal. would be more than enough for a single application. You could add up to 25 gallons of water to give yourself a more even application."
So would you add the 5 gal. of tea to 20 gallons of water and then apply. b) does the water need to be warmed prior to adding the tea? Just thinking out loud. The tea is prepared at @72 degrees or so. Would adding the tea to cold water be harmful to the bacteria. Thanks.

3/13/2008 3:04:57 PM

Seattle, WA

Andy,

The water does not need to be warmed. 60-70 degrees is ideal temps. for growing these organisms, but it won't kill them to be applied or brewed at different temps. At cold temps. you'll want to extend your brewing cycle (same with high elevation). Hot temps. you'll need to cut back on your foods a bit. If the water is drastically different than the temp. of the tea then you may have some organisms go dormant. Haven't seen any data on this question either way. Make sure you use de-chlorinated water. Wouldn't worry about the bacteria, it's the fungi and amobae that are most sensitive.

3/13/2008 5:09:49 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Thanks Tad

3/13/2008 6:11:46 PM