I love sharing tidbits and information I’ve gleaned, from other organic gardeners.
Learning about organic natural fertilizers and how I use them correctly during my garden’s growing season, is one of the first things I became obsessed with learning.
Using natural organic fertilizers like earthworm castings was the first product I researched and tried in my first garden here in the Appalachians mountains in Eastern Tennessee. The introduction of this product came to me from a new vendor and entrepreneur at our local farmers market. This new vendor was kind enough to bartered with me. I gave them some of my baked goods and in return they gave me a five pound sack of their worm castings to try. Both them and I were so grateful for the exchange of goods.
These worm casting were dried, pelleted like castings. I never seen anything like it. Sounds strange to some, I'm sure. I never knew anyone growing up who did organic gardening and it's still a strange concept to some back home, still today.
Pelleted worm castings being new to me and all, I needed to do some further research of the product and how I should use it as a top dress on my garden. What does is offer to my plants? What are some other ways to use this product and how often?
Through minimal research, I felt like it took, I found that worm castings weather dried or fresh are a powerful blend of nutrients. Containing all kinds of organic material and minerals, such as, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium. Making this new found product to me a great blessing, these worm castings could be utilized like a slow release fertilizer. I applied my first application in top dressing my garden, watered and repeated every 4-6 weeks or did a new top dressing after every new section was planted in the garden. I was very pleased with the results and a new product to implement in my garden.
Worm Casting tea was another option.
Yes, I just said worm casting tea. This is something for your plants to consume, Not for you. You’ll also hear other gardeners call it Liquid Gold. I’ve included a couple of recipes for this tea for you to try.
Worm Casting Tea
Small Batch without the molasses
2 one gallon jugs with lid
1/2 to 3/4 Cup of Dehydrated Worm Castings
2 Gallons of Water (Rain water if possible - I find it to be the best and don’t have to worry about salt or other minerals in your water)
Keep in a shaded area, away from the suns rays. Allow to set for 24hours before use.
Worm Casting Tea - Large batch
Stirring Stick
5 Gallon Bucket
3 Cups of Dehydrated Worm Castings
2 Tablespoons of Molasses (food for the bacteria to grow, reproduction and stay alive)
Water (Rain water if possible - I find it to be the best and don’t have to worry about salt or other minerals in your water)
Keep in a shaded area. The bacteria being produced does not like the heat and can kill it. Stir every 5 to 7 hours, allow the tea to brew for 24 hours, no more than 48 hours.
The general rule of thumb, when applying this tea to your garden is to use 3-6 ounces of worm tea for every gallon of water, and use the same day you make it. Applying once a week, more often if desired. Another way to use the tea is straight undiluted worm tea, as a foliage feed for your plants. Personally I’ve not tried the foliage method yet.
And other recommendations I’ve found is to use 1 part worm tea to 2 parts water. So if you made a big batch in the five gallon bucket that would be 5 gallons of worm tea to 10 gallons of water. If your worm tea looks real rich I would recommend this method.
The Benefits of Worm Casting Tea
Worm tea contains microbes and beneficial bacterial that are dormant in the concentrate pellet form and become activated upon adding it to water. These microbes and beneficial bacterial go to work immediately upon being applied to your soil to help your plants be healthy and produce more.
And as mentioned earlier contains all kinds of organic material and minerals, such as, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium. Worm tea is especially effective when used alongside their fresh worm castings and composts.
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