Prepare the best organic fertilizer with nettles

Some bad experience with nettles may have made you believe that it is an annoying plant, even hateful and unnecessary. If so, you are wrong. Nettles can be eaten, they are nutritious and therapeutic, and they are also one of the best aids for the gardener and horticulturist.

A natural and ecological fertilizer without side effects

With nettles you can make a powerful and beneficial compost or liquid slurry It contributes to the healthy growth of vegetables. It is a natural and ecological alternative to mineral fertilizers.

It is especially recommended for crops such as potatoes, zucchini and cabbages. It has also shown great effectiveness with tomatoes.

Using a natural fertilizer like this has great advantages over chemical fertilizers. There is hardly any risk of going over with the dose of fertilizer, plants are strengthened and faster growth is achieved.

Like all good fertilizer, nettle slurry is very rich in nitrogen, but it also contains iron, calcium, phosphorus and silicon, among many other elements.

It also prevents pests

In addition, the treated plants modify their internal composition and are less interesting for insects, so that, in addition to fertilizing, it also serves to prevent pests of mites, aphids, whitefly, red spider, etc.

There is even more: the soil where the plants grow also benefits, as worms like it and favors the balance in the ecosystem of microorganisms that surrounds the roots of plants.

This is how nettle fertilizer is prepared

Ingredients:

A large bunch of nettles, enough to fill a bucket (put in the leaves and stems, discard the flowers and roots). A large non-metal bucket. A lid or wooden plank to cover it. A stirring stick the mixture. Rainwater (if you don’t have it, do it with tap water, but let the chlorine evaporate overnight).

Preparation:

Place the bucket in a sunny location. If the place is shady, it can also be done but it will take more time. As the compost will smell bad, it is important that the site is sufficiently separated from where there is a lot of foot traffic. Cut the nettles equipped with good gloves and pruning shears. In case the plants are large you can cut them with a sickle. Put them in the bucket until they occupy three quarters of its volume. Pour the water into the bucket until the nettles are completely covered. Leave the bucket undisturbed for a few days. When it starts to smell bad, cover it up. Uncover it every two or three days and remove the nettles with a stick. It is important to oxygenate the water in this way so that fermentation occurs properly. The mixture will be ready within 14 to 21 days. You can strain it and start using it as fertilizer. It will be useful throughout the growth period of the plant.

how to use

Use it with plants that need a lot of nutrients. Aromatics and legumes should not be treated with this fertilizer. In young plants, dilute 500 ml of fertilizer in 10 liters of water every 15 days. In adult plants, increase the dose to 1 liter. Water the soil with the treated water, not the leaves.