Using Worm Leachate In The Garden

Posted on Jun 25 2010 - 3:07am by Mike Lieberman

I’m using the worm leachate that was produced by the Worm Factory 360 in my garden. The leachate was mixed up with 3 parts water and put into a spray bottle and the plants were sprayed down.

Since my kale leaves are yellowing, aphids have infested my purple kale and cabbage worms wiped out the oak greens, I’m hoping that this will help to help both fertilize the plants and to keep the the insects away.

The leachate is produced by all of the excess moisture that the worm bin has been drained out of the worm bin. This is different than compost tea, which is made from brewing up finished compost with water.

I’ve heard that leachate isn’t as desirable to use in your garden as worm tea because some of the matter in it might not be fully broken down and in a toxic state. I know I’m crazy and still decided to give it a try and sprayed some on my plants. What’s the worst that’s going to happen?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p_dV1qwOX0

11 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Sketchkat06 June 25, 2010 at 3:40 pm -

    the worst? you'll initiate the chain of events leading to the Attack of the Killer Tomatos!!! :9 mwuahahaha

  2. Mike Lieberman June 25, 2010 at 4:22 pm -

    I can live with that.

  3. Whenuwish1 June 26, 2010 at 3:45 am -

    Yeah…..you just gotta show the tomatoes who's boss.

    But seriously, worm juice?! How did you get that? Did I miss a post “How to milk worms 101”?

    What exactly IS this stuff you are using?

  4. Mike Lieberman June 26, 2010 at 5:31 pm -

    Yes milking the worms is a tedious and laborious task.

    It's the excess liquid that drains out of the worm bin.

  5. Meemsnyc June 28, 2010 at 2:54 am -

    Hmmm, this is very interesting tactic!

  6. Mike Lieberman June 28, 2010 at 3:29 am -

    Thanks. Will see what happens.

  7. n8 October 25, 2010 at 7:27 pm -

    So…. what ended up happening? Did it help or harm your plants?

  8. Mike Lieberman October 25, 2010 at 8:29 pm -

    Those plants wound up getting ripped up for other reasons. Never got to see the results…

  9. Manure Tea Gardening February 19, 2011 at 2:32 am -

    you can brew and use manure tea “Moo Poo Tea” it’s an excellent foliage spray and won’t burn your plants ….. You can also plant other plants (companion plants) to help draw beneficial bugs too (see the bug lady) Annie

  10. Mike Lieberman February 19, 2011 at 4:17 pm -

    Multi-purpose. Nice.

  11. Hydroponics Curacap February 23, 2012 at 2:45 pm -

    How did it work out?

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