Nettle as a fertilizer for plants: features, rules of application, recipes for preparing dressings
Nettle, as a fertilizer for plants, is very popular with gardeners. Firstly, this is a top dressing available to everyone, which allows you to enrich the soil with minerals and increase yields. Secondly, it becomes a natural protector against pests. Its use avoids the use of chemicals that adversely affect human health. Therefore, everyone who wants to get a rich and safe harvest should remember the features of such feeding and the rules for its introduction.
Why nettle is useful as a fertilizer for plants
Fertilizing with nettle for plants can achieve the following results:
- Increase yields.
- Strengthen the immunity of crops.
- Increase plant foliage, stimulate the growth of the root system.
- Increase the survival rate of seedlings.
- Saturate the soil with nutrients necessary for the full growth and development of plants.
- Protect crops from aphids and slugs.
Nettle-based fertilizers are used for root dressing and leaf spraying. The positive effect is noticeable after a couple of days. The shoots of plants become stronger, the leaves acquire a rich green hue.
It is possible to make top dressing from nettle at any stage of plant development. The procedures are carried out at least three times per season: after transplanting, before flowering and at the stage of fruit setting.
What plants are nettle useful for, and which plants can it harm
Despite all the benefits of nettle as a plant fertilizer, it can harm some crops.
Such feeding is prohibited for:
- garlic;
- legumes;
- Luke;
- radish;
- potatoes;
- beets;
- carrots.
Using nettles on these plants will result in vigorous tops growing. But the formation of root crops and pods will stop. You will not be able to get a good harvest.
All other crops respond positively to nettle fertilizers. Particularly effective is the introduction of dressings for tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and cabbage. Fertilization of berry crops and indoor plants gives a good result.
Preparation of infusion
In order for the plants to get all the nutrients from the nettle, it is important to properly prepare the fertilizer. An important role is played by the fermentation process that the raw material must go through. As a result, a large number of beneficial microorganisms are formed that can improve the quality of the soil. Only after fermentation do minerals pass into a form that is available to plants.
The best answer to the question of how to make nettle infusion is a classic time-tested recipe:
- Pluck young shoots of nettle. Fertilizer can only be prepared before the seeds appear.
- The stems and leaves are crushed and placed in a barrel. It is better if the container turns out to be plastic or wooden. The metal can react with the infusion, which will negatively affect the quality of the fertilizer. The container should be half full.
- Boiling water is poured into the barrel so that it completely covers the nettle.
- Cover the container with a lid and leave for two weeks.
- Every day the barrel is opened and the infusion is mixed well. So the fertilizer will be enriched with oxygen, beneficial microorganisms will begin to multiply more actively.
After two weeks, foam will appear on the surface of the liquid. Nettle infusion for plants will acquire a rich dark shade. This suggests that it can be used.
Microorganisms die when the water is heated above 35 degrees. Therefore, do not put the infusion barrel in a sunny place. Better to put it in the shade.
How nettle is used as a plant fertilizer
In the home garden, nettle can be used as an infusion, as a mulch for plants and as a herb for composting.
Using nettle infusion
For root dressings from nettle for plants, the infusion is filtered through gauze. After that, it is diluted in clean water in a ratio of 1 to 10. All the necessary crops are watered with the finished fertilizer. One plant will require about 1 liter of finished fertilizer. It is undesirable to make top dressing on dry ground. It is best to do this after rain or pre-irrigation with clean water.
The infusion can also be used for spraying. In this case, the working solution is made less concentrated. Otherwise, burn marks may appear on the leaves. The filtered nettle infusion is diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 20. The resulting liquid is poured into a sprayer and set to work.
Irrigation is carried out only in calm weather in the morning or late in the evening.
Using cake
After filtration of the nettle infusion, the cake remains. It doesn't need to be thrown away. He himself will be an excellent fertilizer.
Oilcake is used:
- During autumn digging of soil. Embedding it in the ground will provide food for the earthworms necessary for aerating the earth and saturating it with humus.
- For mulching near-trunk circles of trees and shrubs. This will avoid freezing the root system during the winter months.
The cake can also be added when preparing a new portion of the infusion. It will speed up the fermentation process of fresh grass.
Composting nettles
Effective fertilization can be obtained by composting. The production of such a fertilizer is time consuming. First of all, equip a place for mixing the mixture. It is recommended for this to dig a hole in the farthest corner of the site. It should not be located close to the house, since an unpleasant smell will come from it during the discussion of grass. You can also make a special wood composter.
Dry leaves or straw, earth and fresh shoots of nettles are laid in the pit in layers of 10 cm. The resulting "cake" is spilled with water with the addition of any preparation containing microorganisms, for example "Baikal". The pit is covered with plastic wrap and left to rot. For the first three weeks, it must be regularly shoveled with a pitchfork. This will saturate the mixture with oxygen. After the process of active decay begins, the contents of the pit can be mixed once every two weeks.
Nettle ash
Ash obtained by burning dried stalks of nettles will also be an excellent fertilizer for plants. It contains a huge amount of trace elements. Of these, potassium is the most valuable. It is necessary for the normal development and fruiting of many crops.
To prepare the ash, freshly cut nettle stalks are left to dry for 24 hours. After that, they are burned without the use of gasoline or other ignition. After the resulting ash has cooled, it is scattered around the plants. This fertilizer can be stored in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
Nettle for tomatoes
Many gardeners notice that the use of pure nettle infusion leads to fattening of tomatoes. They begin to actively overgrow with foliage, and the fruits are tied poorly.
Therefore, other herbs should be used when preparing nettle fertilizer for tomatoes. All weeds collected on the site can be added to the infusion.The addition of comfrey is especially effective. The feeding process remains the same. The grass, covered with boiling water, is left for two weeks. The resulting liquid is filtered and used.
The finished infusion is diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 20. Pour 1 liter of fertilizer under each tomato bush. If feeding is carried out immediately after planting the seedlings, then 0.5 liters of infusion is used.
Nettle Fertilizer Recipes
Nettle can be used as a fertilizer for plants not only in its pure form, but also as part of complex dressings. Three recipes appear to be most effective.
Nettles and bread
Shredded nettle shoots are placed in the barrel. Bread crusts are also sent there. The mass is poured with boiling water. Thanks to the bread, the fermentation process is much faster. The fertilizer will be ready in five days.
Nettle and yeast
Yeast will help increase the number of beneficial microorganisms and improve their survival in the soil. To prepare the fertilizer, 10 grams of dry yeast is poured with two liters of warm, but not hot water. Add two tablespoons of sugar to the mixture. Leave to infuse for a day. During this time, the yeast will begin to work actively. A foam cap will cover the liquid.
Nettle infusion is prepared separately. In 10 liters of pure water, 1 liter of nettle infusion is diluted. Add 200 ml of yeast infusion. Mix the composition thoroughly. Such dressings are applied at the root on a pre-moistened soil.
Nettle and serum
The introduction of such fertilization is shown during the period of active flowering of plants. To prepare it, half of the bucket is filled with chopped young nettle shoots. Pour in 1 liter of milk whey. Pour warm water to the top.
You need to insist the fertilizer under the lid for at least 10 days. The finished product is filtered and diluted in clean water in a ratio of 1 to 10. Top dressing is applied by root method 1 time per week.
Nettle is a valuable fertilizer for many vegetable and berry crops. It is available to every gardener. A properly prepared fertilizer will help you achieve record yields.