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Atlanta, Georgia

Does anyone use molasses in their pumpkin patch?

I read something somewhere that Brett Hester uses
mint as compost in his patch.

I'd just like to hear any opinions from experience.
Michel

10/19/2003 3:40:19 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Use one tablespoon of molasses with one gallon of water and folige spray your plants. Molasses has a lot of minerals in it.

10/19/2003 4:07:58 PM

Montoursville, PA

I use lots of molasses. A quart more or less in the fall clean up and tillling. Two ounces with every touch of the tilling and prep in the spring. During the season two ounces a week along with foliar sprays such as kelp or fish.

Cattle feed grade black strap molasses can be found at any feed mill that mixes or makes cattle feed. It is about three bucks a gallon.

Molasses contains sulfur, potash and many trace minerals. Aproximate analysis is 1-0-5. It is a great addition to the compost pile feeding soil life and microbes. It will chase away fire ants. It also contains a small amount of iron.

Dry molasses is not really dehydrated molasses. It is molasses added to grain residual. In the absense of cattle grade liquid dry molasses may be used.

Either is a great combination when used with fish sprays.

I do not know of the value mint may offer.

10/19/2003 5:11:40 PM

Walton N.y.

i think the mint you are talking about is added to mask the oder of compost that's either improperly or not compleately composted material but have heard in some areas where mint is over abundant it does get mixed in with other compost materials and if the compost temps don't get high enough to kill the seeds off you'll have your own mint patch

10/19/2003 5:26:38 PM

Walton N.y.

also try molasses on your flowers and other veggies you'll have your best tomatoes ever and have heard that it raises the sugar content (brix)and if it gets around 12 (i think) it can actually help deture insects from eating your plants as it makes them sick

10/19/2003 5:30:06 PM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

The mint that Brett uses is a byproduct of a mint processing plant near where he lives..It is steamed and the oils extracted from it, then the leftover pulp is used as a compost. Works very much the same way as when you till in a cover crop, increasing your potential organic matter. As a note, NEVER plant live mint in or around your patch, you think chickweed is invasive..you'll never get rid of mint if it takes ahold.

10/19/2003 6:21:15 PM

Otis Orchards WA.

Does molasses attract any critters ?

10/19/2003 7:50:57 PM

SE Qld Australia

I found if you mix molasses and water 50/50 yuo create a brew that if you paint it on the leaves prevents powdery mildew!!!

10/19/2003 10:34:17 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

The other day Ken Dade who is a top Marrow grower in the UK told me that he tried molasses for mildew but had to stop because mice were eating the leaves,I had a similar problem with milk.I think the mice are there all the time the spray just made the leaves more palatable so next year will control the mice before I start spraying.

Michel,Brett talks a bit about mint in his featured grower chat get there from the home page.

10/20/2003 9:43:15 AM

Walton N.y.

i haven't had a critter problem when used as a foliar spray at the rate of 1-2 oz/gal water applied 1x/week

10/20/2003 8:19:57 PM

Oz

those mice would have sweet minty breath....

10/21/2003 10:15:27 AM