Compost tea is an extract of compost. As the name suggests, it is made from compost. 

But why is it so important for healthy and strong growth? Plants draw all sorts of nutrients from the soil through their roots. Water is the most important thing that the roots pump up out of the ground. But in addition, the plant also absorbs all kinds of elements from the soil, such as minerals.

That said, plants are actually not that good at absorbing minerals from the soil. They do this in symbiosis with the soil life. Soil life consists of many different micro-organisms, of which bacteria and fungi are the most important for plants. The plant releases sugars, among other things, to the micro-organisms living around the roots. The micro-organisms return minerals, vitamins and other useful substances to the plant. So it is actually a sort of barter trade that both parties benefit from. In addition, the good micro-organisms protect the plant against pathogenic microbes.

Good compost contains many good micro-organisms. In compost tea these micro-organisms have multiplied exponentially. So give your plants compost tea, full of these good micro-organisms. As a result, the number and diversity of the micro-organisms around the roots and on the leaves (if you pour the compost tea over the leaves) greatly increases. The diversity and high numbers of micro-organisms enhance the symbiosis so that the plant can absorb minerals and other useful substances better, which makes them grow healthier.

Compost tea works on all plants. Tomatoes taste better and the leaves of the plants shine green. The flowers smell stronger and sweeter and attract more bees and butterflies.

You can extract tea from your own compost heap, but the quality of the heap determines the quality of the tea. When I make compost tea, I always use worm compost. Worms are nature’s soil composters and their droppings are full of the right micro-organisms. Worm compost is the best.

Good micro-organisms are love oxygen. They use a lot of oxygen.So don’t try to economize on an oxygen pump [to aerate the soil around your tomatoes]. If there is too little oxygen, other micro-organisms take over and produce a slush that plants do not grow well in. Itstinks quite a bit so you will recognize it easily.

The good thing is that it’s very easy to make your own composttea. 

This recipe is for 15 liters.

- 20 liter bucket

- 15 liters rainwater

- oxygen pump including airline and airstones

- heating element

- 50 ml molasses

- 200 g of good compost (worm compost)

- cotton bag / pantyhose / sock / washcloth

- Fill the bucket with 15 liters of rainwater.

- Hang the airstones in the water and turn on the pump to maximum.

(If you use tap water – not rain water – first aerate the water for 24 hours before using it to make the compost tea.)

- Place the heating element in the water and set it to 30 degrees centigrade.

- Pour 50ml of molasses into the water. Molasses is rather viscous, which is why I loosen up the syrup first by setting the bottle in a bath of hot water.

- Put 200 grams of worm compost in the cotton bag (or pantyhose, sock or washcloth) and hang it in the water. Make sure the bag is well underwater, but offthe bottom of the bucket, so that water can seep through all sides of the bag.

After 3 days of fermentation, the compost tea is ready. It should smell sweet, a little bit like the forest floor, and it should definitely not stink.

Dilute the compost tea with water at a ratio of 1:10, 1 liter compost tea to 10 liters of water. Pour this over and around the  tomato plants, preferably weekly, but at least once a month.