Manure Tea

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus.

PAMHO AGTSP

 

Our plantation is starting to take some shape, and we are at the stage where

I think we need to start feeding the crops in mid-term. Today we made some

manure tea using 4 generous shovels full of well composted cowdung/sugarcane

leaf compost, to 80 litres of water.

 

This was an arbitrary mix that yeiled a thick dark brown tea which was

readily pourable through a watering can with sprinkler attachment.

 

What I would like to know is, if there are any accepted formulas for feeding

various crops using such tea, or other liquids? How much to dilute what

substance, and how often to irrigate with it?

 

Our potatoes have stopped growing or at least slowed down, and we are about

a month from harvest. Some hedgehogs had been rummaging in the beds, and

exposed some potatoes which appear to be about 1/12 inches long and an inch

wide. My brother in law has been growing the same spuds on his field with

chemicals and they grew to about 8 inches long, by 3 inches. I find it hard

to beleive that ours will get that big in the time left, so I figured they

need feeding, and hence the tea. I sprinkled a lot on the leaves, too, as I

understand that foliar intake is also good.

 

We have Bananas and the fact sheet from the minsitry recommends several

feeding intervals in the year with varieties if chemicals, which of course

we aint having nothing to do with! So the only recourse we have I think is

manure tea. We are also about to plant passion fruit (I was worried by the

effect such planting might have on my consciousness, till I realised I am

still pretty much in the modes anyway!) And they also recommend a strict

regimen of chemicals. There being no extension services in the country,

where I can get advice on the organic alternatives, I am at a bit of a loss

as to where I can find out how to grow these crops organicaly in this

climate.

 

Any tips from the learned assembly?

 

Rodales organic encyclopedia has been suggested, but I fear that it may well

be oriented to Northern climes, whearas we need info for growing semi

tropical crops in frost free, yet low temperature (10 Celcius [F 52] at

night) winter climes.

 

Your servant

Samba das