Make Your Own Compost Tea

Compost tea is a great way to introduce nutrients to your plants. In an urban gardening project, this is a great natural alternative to using plant food. Of course, the first and most important ingredient is compost. You can either purchase the compost or create your own using these simple steps for an indoor set-up. Making compost tea can be as involved or as simple as you'd like, depending on your gardening needs. The goal of making compost tea is to put the benefits of compost into liquid form.  Here, I will share the simplest technique I have used for making compost tea for use with various indoor plants.

The basic equipment is the cut off leg of nylon stocking, compost, water, and a container. Here, I used a 64 oz container.

Insert the nylon stocking into the empty container, wrapping it around the top to create a lip. Carefully fill the stocking with the compost.

Once halfway full, tie the stocking off and around the top of the container. Fill the container with water and let sit for 4-6 hours.

What you will end up with is water that looks pretty dirty, but is actually full of nutrients for your plants. Of course, the better the compost, the better the tea, so I recommend either using your own or researching where to purchase good compost to ensure a balanced nutrient content. After 4-6 hours, you can either water plants directly, or fill a spray bottle for light use.

Celebrating Earth Day: Plant a Garden

A great way to celebrate our unique planet is by planting a garden. Plants are amazing! We depend on them for the air we breathe and the food we eat. Planting a garden is a great way to explore science on an ongoing basis with your child. If space is an issue, I highly recommend the Earthbox or Earthbox Junior, both offering a compact and efficient way to grow a garden.

Before planting your garden, make a plan about what you're going to grow. Observe the location you wish to plant in. How much sun does it get? The answer to this question will determine your planting options. An amazing resource to help in your garden planning is Smart Gardener, available free.

When I first started my urban garden, I planted tomatoes, lemon basil, green peppers, carrots, parsley, and lettuce. I planted my garden in phases, starting in mid-April and lasting through to early October. Since then, I have added cucumbers, kale, spinach, and cilantro. Due to limited access to outside space, no more than three types of plants were growing at the same time. At harvest time, the container was aerated, compost was added, and new seedlings were planted.

Did you know. . .
If you cut the tops off leafy greens, leaving at least 2 inches at the bottom, the blade will grow back. This is true for lettuce, kale, chard, and many more leafy vegetables. Not only do you harvest some food, but you allow the plant to keep growing for at least one more additional harvest.