Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: BumbleJo on May 16, 2015, 23:33

Title: Nettle tea
Post by: BumbleJo on May 16, 2015, 23:33

Hi folks, having failed miserably at growing comfrey, nothing germinated, made a lovely bucketful of nettle fertiliser that's been brewing for a few weeks now I would like to know what to use it on.  I know you have to dilute it 10 parts water to nettle tea.  Which plants will benefit most? Cheers.

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: Goneterseed on May 17, 2015, 00:08

I use it for brassicas which are fairly robust and hungry crops. I use it at 25% to 75% water.
Make sure you sieve it to get the seeds out otherwise you will just get nettles everywhere.

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: Baldy on May 17, 2015, 09:16

Take a look at Alys Fowler's piece oabout Comfrey - she also mentions the chemical balance of nettle feed:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/13/alys-fowler-liquid-feed-comfrey (http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/13/alys-fowler-liquid-feed-comfrey)

I'd suggest you get hold of some Bocking 14 roots - available on line if not from your garden centre - common comfrey can be hard to control but Bocking 14 is sterile so the seeds  won't germinate all over the place. Its great stuff.

Pip pip,
Balders

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: BumbleJo on May 17, 2015, 20:40

Thanks Baldy and Goneterseed!  Will hunt out those comfrey roots and save the tea for the brassicas.   :)

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: Dave NE on May 18, 2015, 17:28

Heres something which might help, Dave
http://burlingtonpermaculture.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/8/9/4289790/liquid_fertilizers_handout.pdf

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: BumbleJo on May 18, 2015, 22:30

Quote from: Dave NE on May 18, 2015, 17:28

Heres something which might help, Dave
http://burlingtonpermaculture.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/8/9/4289790/liquid_fertilizers_handout.pdf

Thanks Dave, interesting stuff!

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: ARPoet on May 19, 2015, 05:53

I bought 3 bocking 14 comfrey roots on ebay last autumn. They looked nothing, but i planted and watered in and all 3 are now growing well and i have already got one bucket of comfrey tea brewing and it should be ready as the first fuits set on the toms.

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: NewSteve on May 19, 2015, 14:33

Quote from: Dave NE on May 18, 2015, 17:28

Heres something which might help, Dave
http://burlingtonpermaculture.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/8/9/4289790/liquid_fertilizers_handout.pdf

Quote

Fresh human urine is sterile (unless there is a urinary tract infection – this urine should not be used) and free
from bacteria. Dilute urine 10-15 parts water to 1 part urine for application on plants in the growth stage.

I can't wait to tell Mrs Steve!

Title: Re: Nettle tea
Post by: Baldy on May 19, 2015, 19:11

Yet again man 'triumphs' over the ladies  :tongue2:
http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/is-male-pee-better-than-female-pee-the-compost-conundrum.html (http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/is-male-pee-better-than-female-pee-the-compost-conundrum.html)

Pip pip,
Balders

(Mrs Balders has a 'shewee' for use at festivals and such like - so perhaps I could suggest that our allotment association invests in some to help encourage diversity 'on the heap'?)