From page 30
advantage of using compost
amounts and learning how to tea lies in the fact that the
produce compost tea is
micro-organisms that live in
important for adding organic your compost ~ beneficial
materials to the soil. The
fungi, bacteria, nematodes
three main elements,
and protozoa ~ will multiply
nitrogen, phosphorous and
in a compost tea. Micro-
potassium or potash, (N, P,
organisms are what keep soils
and K) are used up in large
alive. A small particle of soil
quantities in vegetable
can contain thousands of
gardens.
different species of microbes.
Due to the effects of close
They break down organic
planting, the major elements matter, recycle nutrients,
may be in short supply, so it is maintain soil structure,
often necessary to give the
promote plant growth and
growing vegetables a fertiliser control pests.
boost. Compost tea is pure
When you apply the high
organic liquid fertiliser that
numbers of microbes typically
has been "watered down" so
found in compost tea, it will
as not to burn the plants.
help the local plants and
As compost tea contains all
ecosystem literally from the
the water-soluble nutrients
ground up.
from your compost , t his
Another advantage is that
means that the richer your
there's increasing evidence
compost is, the more
that plant diseases can be
nutritious your tea will be.
suppressed by treating plants
The nutrients will naturally be with compost teas. This is
more diluted than in straight
most likely due to the
compost.
enhanced microbial popula-
Probably the greatest
tions. They support plant
IN THE GARDEN
health and
stronger plants
are less disease-
prone. Also, the
beneficial
microorganisms
can out-compete
and inhibit the
harmful species
both above and
below ground.
When you are
contemplating
your winter
vegetable garden
Fertilizing with diluted compost tea.
remember that
nitrogen in the
compost. Compost made
soil is difficult for the plants to from diverse, healthy organic
take up if the soil tempera-
matter will give you the best
o
ture is below 100 C, so it will compost tea. Well-aged
be worth your time to use
compost is also preferable
liquid fertilisers to provide a
because the older it is, the
boost until the soil warms up. more microorganisms it will
Water-soluble homemade
have. It should have been
fertilisers are short-acting but decomposing for at least a
should be applied no more
few months.
than every two weeks, usually The particles in your
as a thorough soaking.
compost should be small and
The most important ingredi-
well broken down. This will
ent is, of course, high-quality
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