Gardening ~ Landscaping » Homemade Compost Tea

Homemade Compost Tea

fb iconpinterest icontwitter iconlinkedin iconbuffer icon
This post may contain affiliate links, see Disclosure.

To prevent blight and other pathogens from destroying plants many home gardeners have had great success using homemade manure tea. Soak the area around plants and use as a foliage spray.

homemade-compost-tea

Manure or Compost tea is not recommended for use on seedlings as it may encourage damping-off disease.

To make your own, fill a 30 gallon trash can with water. Let sit for 24 hours to evaporate the additives (use rain water if you can). Add about 4 shovels worth of manure to this and cover. Let it sit for 2-3 weeks, stirring once a day. Strain and apply as needed.

What would you add to Homemade Compost Tea based on your own experience?
🍂 Every qualifying comment also earns a giveaway entry. Unlimited entries.

Various manures supply nutrients as follows: be aware that ALL manure must be aged as fresh manure will burn plants terribly due to the high amounts of ammonia.

Chicken manure: nitrogen rich: use for heavy feeders such as corn, tomatoes and squash.

Cow Manure: potash: use for root crops.

Rabbit manure: promotes strong leaves and stems.

Horse manure: leaf development.

Compost Tea: Make and use just the same as you would the manure tea. This is another terrific
reason to compost all those prunings, grass clipping and kitchen wastes.


© Can Stock Photo Inc. / grimplet

📌 Love this Homemade Compost Tea? Pin it!

Container of dark homemade compost tea near garden plants with text reading “Homemade Compost Tea”

Melissa 'Liss' Burnell, Founder of Budget101

👩‍🍳 About the Author

Melissa "Liss" Burnell started Budget101.com in 2001 because she needed it to exist — not because she saw a market opportunity. She was feeding a family of four on under $200 a month, and people kept asking how, so she started writing everything down.

That turned into 25 years of recipes, debt-busting strategies, and DIY content — including figuring out how to make 128 loads of laundry detergent for less than $2. Millions of families have quietly used this site to stretch a dollar without feeling like they're sacrificing anything. She's also the author of two bestselling budget cooking ebooks, available on Amazon.

📚 More on the About page, or find her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.

💬 Join the conversation
What would you add to Homemade Compost Tea based on your own experience?
🍂 Budget101 Fall Comment Giveaway
Every qualifying comment = 1 entry
This week: $25 Winner's Choice Gift Card
Weekly entry period: Sep 7 through Sep 13, 2026.
Grand prize: $100 Walmart Gift Card
Every qualifying comment also remains in the grand-prize pool through Oct 30, 2026.
Unlimited entries. Each approved, original, relevant comment receives one entry.

Leave a Comment