[diggerjoe]

Not having access to any well rotted stuff and only able to get a couple of carrierbags on my bike (nearest source 5mile bike ride away) what's the best thing to use - I have used Chicken pellets before and I make my own compost but its never enough for the whole plot - what else can I use to increase the fertility of the plot generally?

[Celtic Eagle]

Compost is the next best but like you say hard to make enough. Having a bed of comfrey would help once established you can cut 4 times a year at least  Chicken pellets are good sprinkle them along the rows for cheapest usage water them and they break down fairly quickly. Concentrate what you have near where its needed. Anybody else on the plot know where to get  some?

[dougsta]

I have had a lot of success with spent hops from the local brewery - high in nitrogen I'm told. Just fork em in.

[strangerachael]

I have recently been reading that nettles are just as good as comfrey for general fertilising and compost making/activating.
You could also try a green manure such as phacelia, clover, or mustard. Just chop it down and dig it in once it is growing strongly but before it flowers.

[GrannieAnnie]

Make nettles or comfrey into a liquid fertilizer by soaking in water for a couple of weeks then water thr ground around your plants with that!

[scotty]

Make nettles or comfrey into a liquid fertilizer by soaking in water for a couple of weeks then water thr ground around your plants with that!

i have loads of nettles that come up which i could do this with. would applying this be too much onto well rotted horse munure? have made raised beds and filled with 5yo well rotted munure. horrid clay soil underneath.

[RichardC]

You say plot, so I assume you are on an allotment rather than in your garden.

If so, is it worth talking to fellow plot holders, or the committee if you have one and arranging a bulk delivery of manure between you?

[PAH48]

Hi... I've  mentiomed this before, get hold of an old onion sack,
(plastic net type) or similar.
Add a bucket or so of manure, tie with a rope on a batton of timber,
submerge into a barrel of water...Hey presto liquid manure on tap 
Or as Grannie mentioned nettles, but no roots,
again hang in barrel or old bath of water,.. liquid fertiliser...
Used  both these methods for ages now down at the lottie..

Best of luck PAH

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh yeah PAH48, I forgot to say no roots, mind you, after a few weeks in the water the roots will rot won't they??

[PAH48]

Hi... to be honest Grannie I've always burnt the roots,
certainly the ash doesn't do any harm....
( bit of a fire bug    )
so I can't honestly say yeah or nay to that one 
All I do know is, as I was trying to put over..
A little can go  a  l o  o  o  o ong  long  way...
Have fun.. perhaps someone with more experience
can answer the question 

Bye PAH

[woodburner]

Liquid feeds whether home made or proprietry brands will give a short term boost to fertility, but for the long term health of the soil you need to add organic matter too.
Leaf mould, FYM, compost, green manures (either composted or cut and used a mulch) are all good.
Which is best? Whichever you can get the most of! 

[PAH48]

Liquid feeds whether home made or proprietry brands will give a short term boost to fertility, but for the long term health of the soil you need to add organic matter too.
Leaf mould, FYM, compost, green manures (either composted or cut and used a mulch) are all good.
Which is best? Whichever you can get the most of! 

To true 
PAH

[Paul Plots]

diggerjoe had you considered getting a trailer for the bike if you haven't a car?

May sound daft but a decent bike trailer lets me take quite a bit of organic material to the plot. (100kg) Grass mowings, leaves and sometimes shrub shreddings - it all adds up. As I am going to the plot anyway....

My cycle trailer - couldn't do without it!

[sclarke624]

seaweed if you happen to be near the sea don't think you are though.  Washed, or hosed of salt as much as poss and shredded (lay on lawn run over with mower then soak in a bucket till breaks down, or something like that.

[diggerjoe]

Thanks for all suggestions - We did have a manure drop!!! from a local farmer but those that get there in the week ( I can only do weekend till light nights ) squirrelled it away  and have spread it on their plots - not a spadeful left  for us beginners - at our site you have to be in the know  to get included in any freebies. Love the idea of  the trailer Leaner thanks for that I could get quite a bit in one of those. Neighbour has offered some comfrey so will have a go with that.