Is the fertilizer effective?
The nettle is extremely effective as an organic fertilizer. A natural fertilizer couldn't be easier to manufacture and could hardly be better in its effectiveness. Expensive guano fertilizers, blue grains and the like can be dispensed with if you take the trouble to make a brew or liquid manure from nettles.
also read
- Organic pesticide from the kitchen: nettle against aphids
- Nettle as a weed killer? How does this work?
- Planting the nettle is worth it and this is how it works!
Nettles grow almost anywhere where there is nutrient-rich and moist soil. They are considered pointer plants for nitrogen. They not only contain a lot of it, but also a lot of minerals and trace elements. With them, the plants can be fertilized every week without worry.
For which plants is nettle fertilizer suitable?
All useful and ornamental plants (like vegetables such as tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers and other heavy consumers such as roses), even the lawn, can be fertilized with a nettle liquid or a nettle stock. You should note the following mixing ratios (nettle manure: water) when using a manure:
- Lawn: 1:50
- Young plants: 1:20
- older plants: 1:10
How is the fertilizer made?
Making nettle manure yourself is very easy. All you need are nettles, water, a 12 liter container made of wood or plastic, scissors or a knife, a stick and gloves.
That's how it's done:
- Harvest 1 kg of fresh nettles
- Roughly cut the nettles
- Put the nettle pieces in the vessel
- Add 10 liters of water
- stir with a stick
- If necessary, cover with a protective net, for example fine-meshed curtain fabric, cotton cloth, gauze diaper and fasten with rope
Now it's time to wait. Depending on the heat at the location, it takes 1 to 2 weeks until the liquid manure is ready. Only when the liquid no longer foams or forms bubbles is it ready for use. Warning: it smells strongly of ammonia.
Make a nettle stock
If you need the fertilizer immediately, you can make a brew. However, this is less effective because it is not fermented. For this you also use nettle leaves and, in contrast to the production of liquid manure, only let them soak in water for 12 to 24 hours.
Nettle fertilizer is also a pesticide
With the stinging nettle fertilizer you kill two birds with one stone: it supplies the plants with nutrients and it acts as a pesticide against aphids, for example. To do this, you should give the liquid manure or the brew directly to the affected areas.
Tips
Nettle as a fertilizer can also be made in late autumn, winter or spring when the plants are not growing outside. You can collect and dry the nettles at harvest time and later use them to make a manure. There is also stinging nettle powder available in stores for those who shy away from picking it themselves.
