How to use liquid compost

May 18, 2017

If I've got some compost (mostly anaerobic) that is a few years old (composting in a garbage can), and just happens to be in liquid form for some odd reason, how much of that can I give to a very nitrogen-starved, transplanted tomato (not recently transplanted) that is a few inches tall? Do I just water it into the soil?

It smells like cow manure when I stir it. Is that normal? It's from fruit, produce scraps and such.

RayR · May 18, 2017

No, it's not normal for it to smell like cow manure. Being anaerobic, I wouldn't use it. Anaerobic bacteria can produce some nasty metabolites that are harmful to plants in stagnant wet compost. It won't be useful for N either.
Best thing to do with it is dump it in a pile with some fresh inputs, turn it once in awhile and let it become aerobic. Eventually it will smell like fresh fertile soil.

May 18, 2017	#1
shule1 Guest Posts: n/a	How to use liquid compost If I've got some compost (mostly anaerobic) that is a few years old (composting in a garbage can), and just happens to be in liquid form for some odd reason, how much of that can I give to a very nitrogen-starved, transplanted tomato (not recently transplanted) that is a few inches tall? Do I just water it into the soil? It smells like cow manure when I stir it. Is that normal? It's from fruit, produce scraps and such. Last edited by shule1; May 18, 2017 at 05:47 PM.

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May 18, 2017	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,464	No, it's not normal for it to smell like cow manure. Being anaerobic, I wouldn't use it. Anaerobic bacteria can produce some nasty metabolites that are harmful to plants in stagnant wet compost. It won't be useful for N either. Best thing to do with it is dump it in a pile with some fresh inputs, turn it once in awhile and let it become aerobic. Eventually it will smell like fresh fertile soil.