Worm castings helping with mildew

by Cynthia
(Aptos, Ca., Santa Cruz)

I heard some where that if you make a tea out of your worm castings and spray them on your garden inculding pants that it helps with mildew and rusting were climates are cool in the morning and evening. Do you know anything about this and does it work?

Doug says there are a lot of this kind of recommendations going around the Net right now. This comes from some work done in Europe on spraying aerated compost teas made with specific bacteria onto specific plant problems. And there was some benefit if I understand the research properly.

But - and it's a big BUT - you can't take this specific research, apply it to worm compost and expect it to work.

So in answer to your question, let me simply say that as far as I can see - to expect some magic remedy for any plant disease by spraying worm compost tea is not going to be possible.

You might get a healthier plant that will fight off problems so I'm not saying don't do it.

I am saying go ahead and do it for the general health of the plant and garden but don't expect it to solve a specific health issue or cure some disease.