missuscluck Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 I found this recipie in my small holding magazine for plant food. I thought I could use it to feed my tomatos insted of buying plant food. Half fill a bucket with stinging nettles. Fill to the top with water then weight down the nettles to keep them under water. (I have used chicken wire and an old tile!!) Stir well every day, it will start to smell as it ferments. Leave for a week or two. and it is ready to be diluted for use. The smell can be reduced by adding a handfull of bone meal or herbs such as rosemary or thyme. This makes a very concentrated feed which should be used 1:10 dilute with water. It contains large amounts of potash and nitrogen. And best of all, its FREE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Yes but it really does pong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 It certainly does! - but it does work well....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Ill tell you when its brewed. I have put lots of rosemary in it and it dosent smell at all yet. Its standing in my green house at the moment. If anything, it smells quite pleasent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Ill tell you when its brewed. I have put lots of rosemary in it and it dosent smell at all yet. Its standing in my green house at the moment. If anything, it smells quite pleasent. Just you wait.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 Im intrigued. It still smells ok! Will I pass out due to the pong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 The one in the home farmer was comfrey when the flowers open and mine are just showing so I will be trying that one - hope its not too smelly!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 comfrey feed smells like.....like.....nothing else on earth evil smelling doesn't begin to cover it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 I've just bought some comfrey, so I shall be finding out next year how smelly it is. I've seen that it smells like raw sewage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I also did a bucket of nettle stew - haven't smelt it yet, and it's been there for a few weeks now! I had also heard somewhere (the Big Dig I think) that it is good for spraying plants ( brussle sprouts or brassicas possibly?) I'm not sure if this is to stop some kind of pest which also doesn't like the smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 comfrey feed smells like.....like.....nothing else on earth evil smelling doesn't begin to cover it Oh dear - looks like a peg on the nose in the greenhouse then! - its for the tomatoes and veg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffymuppet Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 If you've got comfrey then there is a way to make it into a liquid feed without putting up with the pong. Instead of drowning it in water, just pack a bucket with comfrey leaves, weight them down and let them rot down on their own. You'll get a treacly liquid that hardly smells at all and can be diluted to make a great tomato feed. It won't work with nettles because their composition is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted May 28, 2008 Author Share Posted May 28, 2008 It still isnt smelling really bad. It just has a slight whiff, which isnt altogether unpleasent. I think that the rosemary is doing its job and countering the whiff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Missuscluck, how is your nettle mixture smelling? I have 5ft high nettles at the moment and am planning on making some myself, so I am interested to know please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 Actually, its not so bad at all. Its not the sweetest smelling thing but its not as awfull as expected. I thought if it got bad I would add some more rosemary, but I havent needed to. Its stood in its bucket in the greenhouse. It still has whats left of the nettles and rosemary in, just the woody bits that havent rotted down. (no, I wont be freezing whats left to make a crumble at a later date, a la rhubarb scnapps ) I have started to use it in the watering can. I just scoop a small pot full and chuck it in the water. Hopefully I will be able to report bumper tomato's soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 I reckon you should get your sense of smell checked, either that you're wearing a peg on your nose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
