I usually bubble the chlorine out of water, mix molasses with my compost and then bubble for 24 -32hrs mixing in no more than 2tbl spoons of molasses through out the bubbling or oxygenation process. Once i started this mixture my plants perked up. Texas sandy soil takes some work..
I was worried last summer until i saw this video and I just waited. In west Texas the summer can be killer on plants but as soon as it started to cool down in August my plants were loaded with fruit. A shade canopy over the plants for the scorching afternoon was a help. Thanks Ray
Ever heard of anyone making compost tea using worm castings? Do u think it would work well if you have a worm farm and not a compost pile to make compost tea?
Praxxx, My tomatoes are getting killed by the hot temps here in San Antonio. It's been over 90 degrees for the past three weeks. 60+ days without rain now and it's extremely windy. The plants are lush and green and get beautiful blossoms but then they die off. It's really frustrating. Just gotta keep watering and giving them compost tea.
also, this is the first year we have grown peppers. My bell pepper plants grew about a foot then stopped, and they aren't showing any signs of producing any peppers. Do you think it is too early or are they lacking something? they have lots of sun, etc. A friend a few streets away from me has had full sized green bell peppers for weeks now and his plants are even smaller than mine.
@GettingThereGreen Has it been hot in your area during the day and night? You grow yours in the greenhouse? Does your neighbor grow his in a greenhouse? Just taking a blind stab at it with not alot of info, it sounds like you have a little bit more heat on your plants than your neighbor. Many hot pepper varieties can withstand hotter temps. Bells need slightly cooler temps than that. I'd just play the waiting game and keep feeding them the tea. They'll kick in when the temps go down just a bit.
@smethious EARLY blight is most definitely nothing serious if treated. It's 100% manageable. LATE blight is the game ender. My tomatoes and many other viewer's tomato plants came through early blight easily.
came back to watch this video again. I did compost tea for the first time recently because you did this video and because you told me to do it on my tomatoes that I replanted recently due to a poor soil situation. Glad I came back to watch the video again! I forgot your tip about wetting the soil first. and I see below the comment about not using chlorinated water. I'll keep that in mind next time I make compost tea. Thanks for all your great tips. ~Amanda
@jaschrier123 That blows! :( Yes there's a quick easy solution. Water from ground level and keep water off the leaves as much as possible. You can buy a small container of sulfur dust at your local garden center or Lowes for under 10 bucks. It kills fungus attacks such as blight. Luckily blight isn't a game-ender, just a bit ugly and inconvenient. :)
great info. the only thing i would add is using RAIN WATER instead of chlorinated city water. ((or if you must use city water,)) let it stand for a day in a bucket first. i just started watching so i have lots to catch up on. waves~~~
@crosspecans Excellent point! I forget to mention that when I talk about water because I use well water. But you're absolutely right. Chlorinated water pretty much can wipe out the bacteria in compost tea. Thanks! :)
Thanks for your help. Just one more question. When the true leaves come out, is that the time to take out the weakest looking of the 3 sprouted seeds that I originally put in the little transplant pot? And should I then transplant the one stronger plant into a larger pot before it is time to actually put it in the garden? I am just wanting my tomato plants to be as strong and as bushy looking as yours seem to be. Thanks!
@TheOrganiclady Yep, when the true leaves come out you'll be able to tell which of the three is the strongest. Sadly, the other two must be sent to the great beyond.
The time to transplant the seedling into a bigger pot is when it's as tall as your middle finger. Bury it to the very top and allow only the top cluster of leaves to show above ground. Seems drastic, but you'll be glad you di when you see the results later. :) The time to transplant into the garden depends on your season.
Thanks for the tip. I am gonna use it on my next season of peppers and tomatoes which will go in the ground around Sept 1st. I have a question about my new seedlings I just started yesterday. I used an organic mix I found for starting seeds, but do you think it would be better if I used a compost tea to water them or should I just stay with plain water? I appreciate your advice.
My mom and I look for you just about every day. I have learned a all about gardening from watching you. Thank you for being on youtube, you make youtube fun and knowledgeable, I think I spelled that right lol.
@ZmommaW Thanks for the confidence and compliment! Hi mom!!! :)
btw, a quick cheap source of calcium is wood ashes from a fireplace or you could buy a small bag of organic tomato fertilizer. It contains calcium and is specifically made to stop blossom end rot. Go as inexpensive as possible though.
Thanks for the great tip. Its been hotter than heck here in the Great White North - 100F today. Might not be considered hot to Alabamans but it is to me. Brown outs (no electricity) due to overload all over the city = no air cond. Sure ! Call me a wimp. That works. Anyway, watering plants at night and then following with compost tea. Thanks a bunch !
@ZmommaW Do you mean blossom end rot where the tomato turns dark and rotten where the flower falls off? That's caused by changes in watering. Your plants need even watering. Basically keep the soil mildly moist but not soggy or totally dry. The fastest and easiest way is to spread dried grass clippings on the soil around the plant to keep the soil from drying out. This usually works. Otherwise a drastic measure is adding calcium to the soil.
Thanks for the video, I've been having trouble getting my peppers to produce fruit. Imagine that, watering your plants before you feed them compost tea, it sounds so crazy it just might work!
Excellent advice. Making tea is a great way to apply compost and I'm completely sold on it. I use worm compost tea which takes a bit more work to make. Yours is faster and easier.
Great advice, as usual :-) Thanks for the tip about the wet soil. I learned how to make and use compost tea by watching your videos, and it works wonders! My plants LOVE the stuff, and I get great results using it.
I have been pretty lucky in that the only thing I have not had any fruit on is my purple tomatillo. It's covered with flowers....and the flowers reach the lantern looking stage...then they get to about the size of a big pea...then they fall off.
It has been very hot this season here....we've had plenty of days of over 100 degree temps, with nights only falling into the high 70's.
I've not had any problems with my tomatoes or peppers though.
My potatoes aren't blossoming at all, what might be the problem?
I have them in very large containers in a mix of potting soil and compost (the compost works very well with all my other plants) but I noticed that mine sprouted when the farmer's potatoes did, and now theirs are blooming but mine aren't. I water when I stick my finger in the soil and can't feel much moisture.
@fmaneko217 My guess is there's alot of nitrogen in your soil, which makes the plants grow like mad but slows the production of blossoms. They'll make flowers eventually I think.
@Praxxus55712 Hi and thanks for the compost tea tip! I planted a big container of potatoes to try it out and they started to get flowers so I cut them all off. From the 2 comments, I made a mistake. Can you explain this further and what I should do now? Why do they need to make flowers? Thanks,
@greyhoundfriend123 You don't need flowers on potato plants unless you want seeds. They'll make taters no matter what. Btw your taters will probably flower again. That's my guess. The seaon's far from over. :)
I thought it was the wind that nocked of the flowers thanks so much. I learned some thing today. :) the compost thing I knew about it but I didnt know exactly what to do. How are you doing with the house plans. are you still looking or have you found the one. did you have any bites on your home?
@crewlla Yep had a showing of my home a few days ago. The agent said there's a 50/50 chance they might make an offer because the autistic son fell in love with the place and birds.
@1111atreides Usually they probably don't dig the cold, but if they needed it maybe that would help, or the amount of ice and how you use it could be adjusted if what you are looking to achieve is a lowered temp for a few hours so they can process their sugars. You could also not allow the ice melt to get to the soil if that was a real problem. If I was in a hot place I'd do it, but it's always cool here at night, or except for maybe a freak hot night or 2. But that hardly ever stays over 70
Thanks Ray, you have saved the day yet again the tomato plants closest to the heater was not producing any fruit . I shall swith it off. and rely on nature. I have grass snakes that has eaten most of the frogs in my garden. It goes into the pond and swim around to get them.
This is cool idea, there is another one, there are some Mexican tomatoes that will pollinate even in the hot temperatures. Here in Florida this is a constant problem, so getting varieties that will work in the heat is the best option during the hot summers down here.
I should try that. now question for you then. i have habenero plants inside because someone is so conserned it will get too cold at night. now remember i am in western washington. i know peppers can be difficult what would you reccomend? would you put them outside? bell peppers in the green house are not dropping any flowers. not sure it would be the same with the habenero's here. anyhow. love the video good info.
As always, very helpful— thanks. In SE-WI and my outdoor peppers and tomatoes are doing fantastically using much of you advice in past videos. I have six habanero plants in our sun-room, and it consistently gets to 95F or higher in there, and I noticed yesterday that a blossom had dropped. So, I'm going to try and keep the temperatures down using opened windows and a fan.
Additionally, the end of your video tags gave me a good chuckle.
Amazing. Good work. My garden sucks right now.. old clay and sand pit for dirt pretty much :(. How many years will the compost in your garden last for? Do you take it out each year and replace it with fresh stuff? Thanks.
@1gotgoods my Grandmother lives in West Texas, the same thing happened to her. What are do you live in? She applied a fish based fertilizer.
RaRaRyan1997 1 week ago
I usually bubble the chlorine out of water, mix molasses with my compost and then bubble for 24 -32hrs mixing in no more than 2tbl spoons of molasses through out the bubbling or oxygenation process. Once i started this mixture my plants perked up. Texas sandy soil takes some work..
1gotgoodz 2 months ago
I was worried last summer until i saw this video and I just waited. In west Texas the summer can be killer on plants but as soon as it started to cool down in August my plants were loaded with fruit. A shade canopy over the plants for the scorching afternoon was a help. Thanks Ray
1gotgoodz 2 months ago
Ever heard of anyone making compost tea using worm castings? Do u think it would work well if you have a worm farm and not a compost pile to make compost tea?
tribulus82 2 months ago
@tribulus82 Tea made from worm castings is a very good mild feed for plants. I highly recommend it if you have castings.
Praxxus55712 2 months ago
Praxxx, My tomatoes are getting killed by the hot temps here in San Antonio. It's been over 90 degrees for the past three weeks. 60+ days without rain now and it's extremely windy. The plants are lush and green and get beautiful blossoms but then they die off. It's really frustrating. Just gotta keep watering and giving them compost tea.
getyershells 10 months ago
also, this is the first year we have grown peppers. My bell pepper plants grew about a foot then stopped, and they aren't showing any signs of producing any peppers. Do you think it is too early or are they lacking something? they have lots of sun, etc. A friend a few streets away from me has had full sized green bell peppers for weeks now and his plants are even smaller than mine.
My hot peppers are producing fine. Thanks ~Amanda
GettingThereGreen 1 year ago
@GettingThereGreen Has it been hot in your area during the day and night? You grow yours in the greenhouse? Does your neighbor grow his in a greenhouse? Just taking a blind stab at it with not alot of info, it sounds like you have a little bit more heat on your plants than your neighbor. Many hot pepper varieties can withstand hotter temps. Bells need slightly cooler temps than that. I'd just play the waiting game and keep feeding them the tea. They'll kick in when the temps go down just a bit.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 I disagree early blight is real bad and late blight is too a game ender!
smethious 1 year ago
@smethious EARLY blight is most definitely nothing serious if treated. It's 100% manageable. LATE blight is the game ender. My tomatoes and many other viewer's tomato plants came through early blight easily.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
came back to watch this video again. I did compost tea for the first time recently because you did this video and because you told me to do it on my tomatoes that I replanted recently due to a poor soil situation. Glad I came back to watch the video again! I forgot your tip about wetting the soil first. and I see below the comment about not using chlorinated water. I'll keep that in mind next time I make compost tea. Thanks for all your great tips. ~Amanda
GettingThereGreen 1 year ago
Hey Ray, All 30 of my tomatoes have developed some kind of blight. Besides pruning off the dead branches is they anything I can do?
jaschrier123 1 year ago
@jaschrier123 That blows! :( Yes there's a quick easy solution. Water from ground level and keep water off the leaves as much as possible. You can buy a small container of sulfur dust at your local garden center or Lowes for under 10 bucks. It kills fungus attacks such as blight. Luckily blight isn't a game-ender, just a bit ugly and inconvenient. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
great info. the only thing i would add is using RAIN WATER instead of chlorinated city water. ((or if you must use city water,)) let it stand for a day in a bucket first. i just started watching so i have lots to catch up on. waves~~~
crosspecans 1 year ago
@crosspecans Excellent point! I forget to mention that when I talk about water because I use well water. But you're absolutely right. Chlorinated water pretty much can wipe out the bacteria in compost tea. Thanks! :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Thanks for your help. Just one more question. When the true leaves come out, is that the time to take out the weakest looking of the 3 sprouted seeds that I originally put in the little transplant pot? And should I then transplant the one stronger plant into a larger pot before it is time to actually put it in the garden? I am just wanting my tomato plants to be as strong and as bushy looking as yours seem to be. Thanks!
TheOrganiclady 1 year ago
@TheOrganiclady Yep, when the true leaves come out you'll be able to tell which of the three is the strongest. Sadly, the other two must be sent to the great beyond.
The time to transplant the seedling into a bigger pot is when it's as tall as your middle finger. Bury it to the very top and allow only the top cluster of leaves to show above ground. Seems drastic, but you'll be glad you di when you see the results later. :) The time to transplant into the garden depends on your season.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Thanks for the info.
ZmommaW 1 year ago
Thanks for the tip. I am gonna use it on my next season of peppers and tomatoes which will go in the ground around Sept 1st. I have a question about my new seedlings I just started yesterday. I used an organic mix I found for starting seeds, but do you think it would be better if I used a compost tea to water them or should I just stay with plain water? I appreciate your advice.
TheOrganiclady 1 year ago
My mom and I look for you just about every day. I have learned a all about gardening from watching you. Thank you for being on youtube, you make youtube fun and knowledgeable, I think I spelled that right lol.
ZmommaW 1 year ago
@ZmommaW Thanks for the confidence and compliment! Hi mom!!! :)
btw, a quick cheap source of calcium is wood ashes from a fireplace or you could buy a small bag of organic tomato fertilizer. It contains calcium and is specifically made to stop blossom end rot. Go as inexpensive as possible though.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Thank you, and yes I'm talking about blossom end rot. Where can I get calcium to.
ZmommaW 1 year ago
OY there sure are some doozys ! Kudos to you Ray
mukwah1111 1 year ago
Thanks for the great tip. Its been hotter than heck here in the Great White North - 100F today. Might not be considered hot to Alabamans but it is to me. Brown outs (no electricity) due to overload all over the city = no air cond. Sure ! Call me a wimp. That works. Anyway, watering plants at night and then following with compost tea. Thanks a bunch !
mukwah1111 1 year ago
Help me please........how do you fix the problem with blossem rot on tomatoes
ZmommaW 1 year ago
@ZmommaW Do you mean blossom end rot where the tomato turns dark and rotten where the flower falls off? That's caused by changes in watering. Your plants need even watering. Basically keep the soil mildly moist but not soggy or totally dry. The fastest and easiest way is to spread dried grass clippings on the soil around the plant to keep the soil from drying out. This usually works. Otherwise a drastic measure is adding calcium to the soil.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
I gave it a shot..... Let you know how it works in a couple days.
roxtar10870 1 year ago
Thanks for this video. I have been scratching my head over why my jalapeño plant keeps dropping flowers. Keep up the great vids!
bryansnell 1 year ago
happy 4th no offense england, haha thats hilarious
maslabud 1 year ago
Will cutting off the left over flower parts improve the tomato size and number later on in the season?
screwmanx 1 year ago
@screwmanx I would say no.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 So is it still possible to get tomatos from the flowers that have blossom dropped?
screwmanx 1 year ago
@screwmanx Nope. Those dropped flowers are just food for the worms now. Not to worry though, the plants will make more flowers.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 ok, good to know =)
fingers crossed all goes well!
screwmanx 1 year ago
Thanks for the tip! ~Amanda
GettingThereGreen 1 year ago
Could you do an extended video on the part where you put the compost into the bucket please? I didn't really understand that bit.
Best Wishes, Brendan.
baconsoda 1 year ago
Thanks for the video, I've been having trouble getting my peppers to produce fruit. Imagine that, watering your plants before you feed them compost tea, it sounds so crazy it just might work!
canuckartist 1 year ago
i liked the vid a lot, but there was one strange thing about it, WHERE ARE THE SCREAMING BIRDS??? did you get rid of them, i hope not
connjamm19 1 year ago
@connjamm19 He DID look like he had some bbq sauce on the corner of his mouth.....hmmmm....
1111atreides 1 year ago
Excellent advice. Making tea is a great way to apply compost and I'm completely sold on it. I use worm compost tea which takes a bit more work to make. Yours is faster and easier.
Regards, Gary
garygardens 1 year ago
Great advice, as usual :-) Thanks for the tip about the wet soil. I learned how to make and use compost tea by watching your videos, and it works wonders! My plants LOVE the stuff, and I get great results using it.
Iloveinsegnamento 1 year ago
This is an awesome video Ray!
I have been pretty lucky in that the only thing I have not had any fruit on is my purple tomatillo. It's covered with flowers....and the flowers reach the lantern looking stage...then they get to about the size of a big pea...then they fall off.
It has been very hot this season here....we've had plenty of days of over 100 degree temps, with nights only falling into the high 70's.
I've not had any problems with my tomatoes or peppers though.
MakeupAddict4eva 1 year ago
My potatoes aren't blossoming at all, what might be the problem?
I have them in very large containers in a mix of potting soil and compost (the compost works very well with all my other plants) but I noticed that mine sprouted when the farmer's potatoes did, and now theirs are blooming but mine aren't. I water when I stick my finger in the soil and can't feel much moisture.
fmaneko217 1 year ago
@fmaneko217 My guess is there's alot of nitrogen in your soil, which makes the plants grow like mad but slows the production of blossoms. They'll make flowers eventually I think.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 Hi and thanks for the compost tea tip! I planted a big container of potatoes to try it out and they started to get flowers so I cut them all off. From the 2 comments, I made a mistake. Can you explain this further and what I should do now? Why do they need to make flowers? Thanks,
greyhoundfriend123 1 year ago
@greyhoundfriend123 You don't need flowers on potato plants unless you want seeds. They'll make taters no matter what. Btw your taters will probably flower again. That's my guess. The seaon's far from over. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
I thought it was the wind that nocked of the flowers thanks so much. I learned some thing today. :) the compost thing I knew about it but I didnt know exactly what to do. How are you doing with the house plans. are you still looking or have you found the one. did you have any bites on your home?
crewlla 1 year ago
@crewlla Yep had a showing of my home a few days ago. The agent said there's a 50/50 chance they might make an offer because the autistic son fell in love with the place and birds.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 awwwww thats a sweet story. I hope they do. the child would love it.
crewlla 1 year ago
LOL! How can you talk with those two lily-white knees dangling right in front of you?
LOL, get a tan!
Greengate777 1 year ago
Wonder if water filled tubes frozen with ice thats allowed to melt and water over night, stood up around the plants over night, would help.
omegahpla 1 year ago
@omegahpla I've watered my plants with ice cubes a couple of times when I had to dash out the door. I don't think they like that.
1111atreides 1 year ago
@1111atreides Usually they probably don't dig the cold, but if they needed it maybe that would help, or the amount of ice and how you use it could be adjusted if what you are looking to achieve is a lowered temp for a few hours so they can process their sugars. You could also not allow the ice melt to get to the soil if that was a real problem. If I was in a hot place I'd do it, but it's always cool here at night, or except for maybe a freak hot night or 2. But that hardly ever stays over 70
omegahpla 1 year ago
Yep, what's happening here in SC. Thanks for the info. :)
VivianRinSC 1 year ago
Thanks Ray, you have saved the day yet again the tomato plants closest to the heater was not producing any fruit . I shall swith it off. and rely on nature. I have grass snakes that has eaten most of the frogs in my garden. It goes into the pond and swim around to get them.
Fleur696 1 year ago
This is cool idea, there is another one, there are some Mexican tomatoes that will pollinate even in the hot temperatures. Here in Florida this is a constant problem, so getting varieties that will work in the heat is the best option during the hot summers down here.
marthale7 1 year ago
So how often do u do this? ev other day? ev 3 days??
kokonutbaby1 1 year ago
Thanks for the tip. LOL, the peacock didn't interrupt you this time.
rayme4raw 1 year ago
Hey, Ray. I love your girlish figure. How do you keep so slim? You look so healthy just like your plants. Have you been drinking compost tea?
OS253 1 year ago
good video!
jerrydff7 1 year ago
I should try that. now question for you then. i have habenero plants inside because someone is so conserned it will get too cold at night. now remember i am in western washington. i know peppers can be difficult what would you reccomend? would you put them outside? bell peppers in the green house are not dropping any flowers. not sure it would be the same with the habenero's here. anyhow. love the video good info.
niffer58 1 year ago
As always, very helpful— thanks. In SE-WI and my outdoor peppers and tomatoes are doing fantastically using much of you advice in past videos. I have six habanero plants in our sun-room, and it consistently gets to 95F or higher in there, and I noticed yesterday that a blossom had dropped. So, I'm going to try and keep the temperatures down using opened windows and a fan.
Additionally, the end of your video tags gave me a good chuckle.
zipiezo100 1 year ago
Amazing. Good work. My garden sucks right now.. old clay and sand pit for dirt pretty much :(. How many years will the compost in your garden last for? Do you take it out each year and replace it with fresh stuff? Thanks.
janaswang 1 year ago