Earthworm Compost Application Rates

New Garden Soil Preparations: - Mix 1- 4 of Earthworm Compost into the top 4 - 6 of soil in spring prior to planting or as soon as the ground becomes workable. Seed Starting Mix: - Add 1 part Earthworm Compost with 2 parts (fertilizer-free) peat or coconut coir based seed starting mix. Annuals, Vegetables, or Perennials: - Seeding, line seeding trench, hole, or bed. - Transplanting, Add - 1 cup Earthworm Compost to planting hole - Established: Work - 1 cup into top 2 - 3 of soil around plant. Roses: Incorporate 2 - 4 cups into top 2 - 3 of soil in spring. Potted Plants: Apply 1 tablespoon for each 2 - 3 inches of pot diameter, gently work into soil, and water well. Potting Soil: Mix 1 part castings to 4 parts potting soil. Lawns: - New: Broadcast 1 over prepared lawn area and rake in prior to seeding. - Established: Broadcast over lawn in early Spring and early Autumn. Compost Tea: Water weekly at normal rates for plants needs. - Mix 3 - 5 cups of Garden Tea Co.s Earthworm Compost per 5 gallons of chlorine free water. ( - cup for every 2 quarts of chlorine free water) - Add 1 - 2 tbl. complex sugars (molasses, honey, agave, natural syrups, or fruit juices) per gallon of water per 24 hours of brew time. - Aerate mixture by whisking/ stirring, or pouring from one bucket to another 2 or more times over the course of 24 - 48 hours. * For best results actively aerate mixture with an aquarium air-pump and 2 air stone diffusers for 24 - 48 hours. We recommend brewing for at-least 12 to 48 hours. The finished brew should be used within 72 hours as the shelf life can be very short. You can apply teas with a watering can as a soil drench or a with a pressurized sprayer. Actively aerated compost tea should be used immediately after removal from your aerobic tea brewing system.

Actively Aerated Compost Tea Application Guidelines

- You can never apply too much compost tea: - Repeated applications of compost teas will help to increase diversity and populations of beneficial microbes. - Apply as: - Soil Drench (soil and root inoculant) - Apply 5 Gallons per acre. - Apply from the base of plant as far out as the plants drip line - Foliar Spray (leaf inoculant) - Use a clean hand pump or pressurized sprayer - Do not exceed 70 psi (slow dispersion is better) - Spray pattern should be broad and non forceful (no splattering) - Teas must come 70% of leaf surface for maximum effectiveness - Apply 10 gallons per acre - Avoid spraying in full sun or on fuzzy-leafed plants, like African violets. - Use Plastic watering vessels (bacteria will impact zinc in metal) - Apply either before 10:00am or after 6:00pm regardless of cloud cover - Ultraviolet rays from the Sun can kill microbes. - Apply teas as soon as possible: - Teas are best if used within 72 hours of removal from brewer - Teas can be refrigerated for up to 30 days. (allow teas to slowly return to room temp prior to use) - Apply mycorrhizal fungi spores to watering vessel prior to application: - Mycorrhizal fungi are a bit more fragile than bacterium and should only be added to teas prior to application. - Clean watering vessels immediately after each application: (remove all tea and or bio-slime residue) - Thoroughly clean watering vessel, hoses, sprayers and the like. - Use dish soap and a scrub brush or a strong stream of water as needed. - A 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution or a solution with 5% baking soda can be used to remove all residue known as bio-slime. The home brewing of actively aerated compost teas provide a healthy alternative to toxic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.