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Garrett Juice


Garrett Juice evolved over a period of years as I would tell readers and callers how to make an effective foliar feeding mix. The mix has always had compost, tea, molasses and seaweed, but the other ingredients have varied. Through trial and error, we came to the basic mix we use today. As always, my formulas are for making the mix at home, but there are commercial products on the market for convenience.

    

To make your own, here are the instructions:

Mix the following in a gallon of water.

Garrett Juice (ready to spray):

1 cup compost tea or liquid humate
1 ounce molasses
1 ounce apple cider vinegar
1 ounce liquid seaweed


For Garrett Juice Plus and more fertilizer value add:

1- 2 ounces of liquid fish (fish hydrolysate) per gallon of spray.


For disease and insect control add:

¼ cup garlic tea or
¼ cup garlic/pepper tea or
1 - 2 ounces of orange oil


For homemade fire ant killer add:

2 ounces of orange oil per gallon of Garrett Juice


Note 1:  To avoid burning plant foliage, the ready-to-use solution should not have more than 2 ounces of orange oil per gallon of spray.

Note 2:  We now know why the mix works so well, not only on the foliage, but also in the soil. The ingredients are a well balanced blend of nutrients and food for both beneficial fungi and bacteria.

Garrett Juice Concentrate:  

Mix the following:

1 gallon of compost tea or liquid humate
1 pint liquid seaweed
1 pint apple cider vinegar
1 pint molasses.


To make Garrett Juice Plus:

Add 1 pint fish hydrolysate
Use 2 oz. of this concentrate per gallon of water for foliar spraying.


To make a version of Garrett Juice Pro, add bacteria and mycorrhizal fungus.

Application:
Apply the ready to spray mix at a rate of approximately one gallon per 1,000 sq. ft. or 35 gallons per acre. 

Add 2 - 4 oz. of the concentrate to one gallon of water and then spray at a rate of approximately one gallon per 1,000 sq. ft. or 35 gallons per acre. 

Commercial Products:
Several manufacturers have manufactured Garrett Juice over the years, available in Garden Centers, hardware stores, Farm & Feed stores and online. Look for Medina Garrett Juice Plus in one, five, and 55-gallon containers.





Related Q&As on this Subject 

Q:  Does Garrett Juice have a shelf-life? I opened the container in late June 2017. Some remains in the container. I want to save it for spring 2018. Should I store in refrigerator Or at room temperature? — J. R. Arlington Heights, IL

A:  Garrett Juice Plus will be fine. Store at room temperature and out of the sun.

About the worse thing that happens with age is that microbes will continue to grow and form a clumpy mass on the surface that will have to be screened out before spraying. To be poured on the soil as a drench, nothing is needed but a good thorough shaking before pouring.


 

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