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churchville, ny

This year I had a PB (actually twice) when the 1229.5 Nesbitt 09 grew me a 1338 and the 785 Pukos 09 grew a 1196 pound pumpkin. The growing weather here was excellent but I'm trying to figure out what made such a difference from the other 25 years I've been growing giants. The genetics were great and I got good info from Tom at extreme pumpkins.

I had 2 sons get married this summer (July 17 and Oct 9th) and from both bachelor parties there was alot of "skunked" beer left that I ended up dumping mainly on the 1338 and 1196. Has anyone else tried this?

I googled "beer as fertilizer" and there are about 250 writings on this but most are about using beer on lawns.

I'm sure this will make for some interesting posts.

12/4/2010 10:04:50 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

B complex vitamins....

The left over yeast stuff is often high in B vitamins.
(Aka 'Vegemite')

Vitamin fortified vines... hmm. Plus it may have fed the beasties and buggies in the soil (microbes).

Just my .00002 cents worth

12/4/2010 11:06:41 PM

East Jordan, MI

interesting observation, when I was in the service and living in the barracks, we used to dump the swill in a plant the next morning when cleaning up. The plant thrived even though for the most part it was neglected....might be something to it.

12/5/2010 12:34:57 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

cntryboy, were you and yer buddies, also peein on the same plant,??? could be a correlation w/ urea, and as Deb, responded...Vegemite??? LOL Just hoping to learn somethin here??? Peace, Wayne

12/5/2010 2:32:42 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Wayne, you never met a little jar of that nearly black tarry substance, called Vegemite????? It's a condiment of sorts, made of the leftover sludge from beer brewing, and full of b complex vitamins. Best is thinly smeared on warm toast, and you either love it or hate it at first bite. Imported from Down Under...

I'm betting it's the leftover nutrients in the beer that did it some good. :)

12/5/2010 4:31:03 AM

South Hero, VT

Beer is high in nutrients such as magnesium, selenium, potassium, phosphorus, biotin and B vitamins. The diluted alcohol(simple sugar) also contributes to soil microbial activity.

Diluted urine is used in certain Scandinavian countries to fertilize gardens and crops.

12/5/2010 8:27:51 AM

Trinity River Bottom

I cant't afford beer bill for me and my plants!!!!!

12/5/2010 8:41:17 AM

South Hero, VT

kirk, you could put urine in your compost tea.

12/5/2010 8:51:03 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I heard pollinating goes a little easier if you give em beer.

12/5/2010 9:39:49 AM

East Jordan, MI

Wayne,
I don't recall that ever happening, but I'm not sure I can respond with a definite no. With a bunch of drunk 19-22 year old single GIs there is no telling what that poor plant had put in it. LOL

12/5/2010 9:48:04 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Luke, that theory only works with humans...and vodka works quicker....

12/5/2010 10:33:52 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i always dump my old beer in the patch

12/5/2010 12:56:52 PM

churchville, ny

Thanks for the comments - it looks like there may be some merit to using beer since the 1338 lb. from the 1229 Nesbitt went 17.3% heavy. It also had another 400+ lber. growing on the same plant.

12/5/2010 3:34:46 PM

Trinity River Bottom

Dang BORER who lets there beer get old?

12/5/2010 3:54:24 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

...Glenn just empties those kegs in the patch when they get a little old...:-0

12/5/2010 6:13:26 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

stech, in my limited memory...observing long time beer consumers...I would guess that the HEAVY theory truly holds some merit...seems to make the beer consumers go HEAVY!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

12/5/2010 6:57:56 PM

Westford, MA

I think Glenn meant USED beer.
.05% Nitrogen I think I read somewhere.
I always add a squirt to my C.Tea...

12/6/2010 2:30:06 PM

Minnesota

Yes it was, the world record is from Wisconsin, all they have there is beer and cheese, someone should be adding cheese next.

12/6/2010 3:09:00 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Kevin, yes sometimes it's "used beer" but sometimes just old skunked beer

12/6/2010 9:54:56 PM

Uk .

hello i know a small brewery locally that they give the spent hops from brewing an local beer to some farmers
would it be benifical to the plot or would it be best composted first?.

12/7/2010 1:12:00 PM

churchville, ny

Data I've been reading states that beer contains:

Over 30 vitamins - magnesium, phosphorous , potassium, biotin, selenium, vitamins A, D, E and as OkieGal said, many forms of B-complex vitamins.

Beer is low in salt and calcium. Part of the reading stated that 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses has 172 mg. of Ca.

Beer contains over 2000 substances, is 92% water and is 1/2% by weight CO2.

12/7/2010 7:51:16 PM