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Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Does Molasses have a spot in anybody's feeding program. I know it used to back in the day and I am curious if it is still being used.

7/13/2022 10:22:07 AM

Kutztown, PA

Ned,

I watched a Youtube a few weeks ago where Moby Mike was adding it at the beginning of the season. The thinking is that it will "wake up" the bacteria in the soil. I've read both good and bad things about adding it. With temps as high as they are now I doubt microbes in the soil need any waking up. Assuming your organic matter concentration is good they should have plenty to feed on and be wide eyed and bushy tailed by now. Some schools of thought say the addition of back strap might do more to promote plant pathogens. Don't know.

7/13/2022 11:07:22 AM

Kutztown, PA

The back strap molasses thing really doesn't make much sense to me. Isn't the organic matter in the soil really what you want the bacteria to breakdown (eat). Maybe it could be said that the effect of the molasses would be to increase the bacteria population thus when they run out of molasses there will be more of them to break down OM. Then the questions is how quickly do you need OM to breakdown for plants to gain the nutrient benefit and do they really need a quicker OM breakdown. Unless the by products of the bacteria feeding on molasses benefit the plant more than the by products of quickly breaking down the OM in the soil I don't see the point. Why feed a chicken that ain't laying eggs?

7/13/2022 11:41:56 AM

Kutztown, PA

I mean unless the by products of molasses breakdown are more beneficial than the by products of normal OM break down.

7/13/2022 11:44:09 AM

Austin MN

I use it weekly in my compost teas

7/13/2022 11:52:18 AM

Kutztown, PA

These are supposed to be the benefits: Blackstrap molasses is high in calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. It also contains sulfur and a host of micronutrients. Using molasses as fertilizer provides plants with a quick source of energy and encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms."

Blackstrap not Back strap as I wrote before.

7/13/2022 3:08:39 PM

Kutztown, PA

Seems like a lot of the reasons people say they're applying stuff don't actually line up with what they're applying. :)

7/13/2022 3:11:44 PM

Stanwood, Washington

I think pretty much all the big hitters are using some form of compost tea. Compost tea usually uses molasses and some sort of manure (usually worm castings). The sugar in the molasses acts as a fuel to rapidly propagate the beneficial bacteria that are present in the worm castings. Aeration with an air pump super charges this process. I suppose there would be some similar benefit from applying the molasses directly to the patch but it wouldn't be as efficient.

7/13/2022 4:21:51 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I also use it in my compost tea. Microbes love it!

7/13/2022 5:50:39 PM

Jericho Vermont

I use molasses every time I feed. I overhead water so it is also a foliar and helps sweeten the leaves to help with cuke beetles who like bitter.

7/14/2022 6:09:22 AM

Kutztown, PA

So, how do they actually make the worm casting and molasses tea and apply it. Does anyone use Mushroom casting for the same purpose since they contain less N? I have a 275 gal. tote that I'm not using right now. How would I make the "magic potion"?

7/14/2022 8:52:58 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Do a site search- main page, message boards- compost tea. There is a post “ what’s your recipe”. Tad posted a link to some recipes. They are all easy to do.

7/14/2022 11:35:14 AM

Kutztown, PA

Ok, I may be seeing the light on adding blackstrap molasses to my feeds. I do have one concern though: Rodents love sweet stuff. If any over spray gets on my pumpkins mice may be even more likely to take a bite. What's the typical recipe for using it?

7/19/2022 9:49:04 AM