Nettle Liquid plant food

  In the east midlands the nettles have now grown enough to be harvested to make nettle plant food. If you have nettles  in the garden, on the allotment site or on the route of your exercise walk they can be picked or cut (wearing gloves) this is the time to start making a liquid feed that will be ready to use  in 2-4 weeks.

Cut young nettles to about 5cm above soil level. Crush the leaves by scrunching the stems in gloved hands or by placing them on a freshly mown lawn and using a mower to chop them.

 Put the crushed nettles into a bucket, it does not matter if some grass is included with the nettles,  weigh the nettles down with a brick and  cover with water. Use about a half a standard bucket full (about one kilogram) of leaves to 10 litres of water.  

Nitrogen-rich nettles are high in silica. As with comfrey tea it is better to use a bucket with a lid to contain the smell. Allow to soak for 2 - 4 weeks. Stir occasionally.  The  liquid should be diluted to the colour of weak tea before being watered onto the plants being fed. If ready the blog click on  the linkfor more  information Plant Liquid Feeds

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