2 Min. Tip: How and Why We Use Tea Leaves in the Garden

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In today’s 2 minute tip, I’ll talk about how and why we use spent tea leaves in the garden. If you shop on Amazon, you can support OYR simply by clicking this link (bookmark it too) before shopping: http://www.amazon.com/?tag=oneya-20 I’ve often recommended used coffee grounds as an excellent free source of nitrogen and other nutrients plants need, but spent tea leaves are even better. According to a study from the University of Florida, tea grounds are 4.15% nitrogen. That’s about twice as much nitrogen as in coffee grounds. Tea also contains nearly twice as much phosphorus and potassium. The study found that tea grounds have an NPK of 4.15/0.62/0.4, while coffee grounds have an NPK of 2.08/0.32/0.28. One Yard Revolution is all about growing a lot of food on a little land using sustainable organic methods, while keeping costs and labor at a minimum. Emphasis is placed on improving soil quality with compost, mulch, and compost tea. No store-bought fertilizers, soil amendments, pesticides, compost activators, etc. are used. Sources: 1) NPK of coffee grounds and tea grounds: "The Truth about Garden Remedies" by Jeff Gillman (2008) p. 41 2) " Are Tea Bags Really Compostable?" http://www.care2.com/greenliving/tea-bags.html/1 3) "Composting Tea Bags" http://www.which.co.uk/news/2010/07/composting-teabags-218651/ 4) Teas with all natural tea bags: http://national.cleanplates.com/health-nutrition/these-teas-are-toxin-free/#.VR7uYfnF8SM

Comments

Now I have more reasons to drink my Green tea, double happy now. :)
Also I find that after brewing green tea, leaves expand very much that it looks like shredded leaves. May be we can mix it up with our mulch leaves, isn't it?? What do you think Mr. Dolan??

Can you use thai tea? It has yellow food color and star anise in it.

God, I had no idea that those ordinary tea bags are friggin' plastic just like everything else! Can't anything just be simple and normal anymore?

+OneYardRevolution | Frugal & Sustainable Organic Gardening -Once again Patrick, you condense what would take an hour for people to explain in an informative 2 minute video! Great information

Great info as always Patrick.. I get the girls to split the bags before they empty them into the coffee bucket here.. Got tired of pulling the bags out of the worm farm :-/
Cheers mate & have a great one..

Thanks for the tips! We drink a lot of tea. I'm surprised it's got about twice the the nutrient content as coffee.

Another excellent vid Patrick.,Before i put my kitchen waste bin contents in to my compost bin i cut the contents up with my hedge clippers before i throw the lot in to my compost bin; i find it speeds up the process, p.s Patrick you must have some irish blood in you, Regards from Dublin

Thanks

Great tip on the tea bags! I use organic tea as well. Quick question ~ do you throw the coffee filters and coffee in your compost or do you remove your filters?

Wonderful video ! many thanks for this moment....have a nice day

Good to know. I make my own tea, with paper and string. I'll just cut off the string and toss them in the compose from now on. Thanks for the tip.

Excellent tip. I am new to vermicomposting. My red wigglers arrived in the mail today and I went online to research exactly what I need to feed them. Thanks for the information. I am going to also use your tip to blend up borage (in place of comfrey, its what i have available) and add it to my garden beds.

Good to know Patrick! I only buy organic tea with degradable tea bags or loose leaf so it all goes into the compost, but I sure am glad to know it's so rich in nitrogen!

I know this sounds really old school, but I buy my tea loose, that way I can make it as I like it!

Thats interesting with the n p k.

Your tip will be an incentive for me to drink more green tea. And I look forward to your video on the ultimate free nitrogen source. One that humans have been making since the dawn of time.

Very good tip Patrick! Great to see a high nutrient content too.

thank you for sharing

Great tip Patrick. You just reminder me to drop of my coffee bucket to my local coffee shop. Your garden looks garden good. I'm starting to see more and more green in the background.

Cool, Patrick! I have been putting tea bags in the compost, but I will start putting them in the raised beds! Thanks for sharing the info!