Nettle 'Tea' ....

[SusieG]

After tussling with some mega nettles yesterday, got enough to fill a bucket with. I chopped them up a bit, covered them in water (didn't look as much in the bucket then), popped a 'lid' on the bucket and placed by side of GH.

How long does this 'tea' need to 'brew' for, before it's usable?

[PyreneesPlot]

I keep it for two weeks before using - and make it every two weeks right through the summer so I have some stored ready to use before the nettles grow again in the spring.

[Cadalot]

Nettle and Comfrey tea bags made using Christmas sweet plastic containers (tins) with holes melted with the trust soldering iron. Holes in lid and side line up so I can cable tie the lid on once filled with nettles or comfrey, then it's chucked in the water butt.

[Bill Door]

Watch out for maggots in the "brew". Don't feed to the plants without diluting it, about 1 part nettle to 10 of water. Place the used nettles in the compost heap.

Not sure how correct this is but I was told that it was better to use the growing tops rather than all the nettle. I used mainly the tops but sometimes roots and all went in.

One word of warning "Stink". Make sure you do not get it on your hands/body/clothes once it has brewed for a few days. You will not get rid of the smell easily.

Bill

[Scoot]

I was out on Sunday collecting nettles from around my local fields as the ones in my garden are still quite small.

Took the lid off yesterday to give it a little stir and it's already starting to stink.

[snowbunny]

We don't have nettles where we are, but I'm pulling a lot of other weeds. Can I use this same method for all my weeds? Can I then pour the whole lot on the compost heap (which will need watering from time to time, I imagine, because it's hot where we are), or is that a waste of the juice?

My alternative is to dry the weeds out before putting them on the compost. Which would you think is preferable?

[SusieG]

I think either is do-able snowbunny ---- drown them well first before adding to heap. Or the dry method (make sure there's no seeding flower heads on them) chop them down, leave them to cook on the ground until wilted, then pop them on the heap.

I don't know about using the 'juice' from other types of weeds that you've drowned - I only know nettles and comfrey, bet someone else will tell you though..!!

[Containergardener]

When are you going to drink it ?

[Ovce domácí]

One word of warning "Stink". Make sure you do not get it on your hands/body/clothes once it has brewed for a few days. You will not get rid of the smell easily.

hahha, it does stink. I often chase the Mrs around the garden with the watering can of it...

[Ovce domácí]

Just reminded me, I made some before I went on holiday in early May should be well ready by now.

[SusieG]

Just reminded me, I made some before I went on holiday in early May should be well ready by now.

Yes! Thanks for the reminder ..... Just going to find my gas-mask out and protective clothing first .......

[Baldy]

Its hard to find NPK figures for plants for 'teas' other than nettles and comfrey - my guess, and its only a guess, is that other weeds are useful but not 'as good'. Of the top of my head, other than creeping buttercup - which gets burnt/dried then composted - most everything gets added to the weed water butt. It stinks but not as bad as the slug-nematode bucket that overheated last weekend...

[MissC]

I've bought a few of these from poundland to make nettle tea with, they're not huge but hopefully it'll be enough to feed the squash plants.

[Ovce domácí]

Yes! Thanks for the reminder ..... Just going to find my gas-mask out and protective clothing first .......

Didnt smell as a skin had formed on top. After a good stir though... its minging.

[stavroslinni]

I made some in a 2lt bottle..... last year!!.... oh my it does indeed smell errrrr.... potent :P