Compost tea is one of the broadest defenses against most plant diseases. When the tea is sprayed on the foliage, harmful organisms are neutralized and places where harmful organisms can attack are protected by a film of friendly organisms.
You make "tea" by immersing aerobic cured compost in a burlap or cloth bag in a 5 gallon pail of water. Let it sit for an hour or so to soak good. Then remove the bag and squeeze out the water. What is left is a rich brown color. Sprinkle the liquid on tomato, pepper, or eggplants. Actually works great on any type of plant.
Tea is a great mid-season pick-me-up and booster for any type of plants. It is the universal elixir to keep plants happy.
You can get cured compost from the waste to energy site in Rochester for $0.50 a 5 gallon pail or $25 per ton in bulk.
If you want to read more about compost tea, see work by Elan Engram on "The Soil Food Web" and Steve Diver from ATTRA.
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