Home made liquid feeds

[number 1 suspect]

Hi everyone.
There seem to be a few ideas on here for feeding your crops but can we possibly post here for mixtures you use for feeding yours

Never done it myself but think it will be a good idea

Martin

[Phill]

I think it's a good idea...and as I've just ordered 7 comfrey plants (bocking 14) I would be really interested too.

[Tracey]

I think it's a good idea...and as I've just ordered 7 comfrey plants (bocking 14) I would be really interested too.

I planted 5 comfrey plants last month. Unfortunately the slugs have completely eaten one already

[fiveravens]

I have three barrells: one has a bag of comfrey in it; the second has a mixture of nettles, switch grass, docks, bramble tips, and any other weeds I come across; the third has a bag of very old soot.

[barrie tough]

i put seaweed in my barrel for about 6-8 weeks makes a good feed but stinks.then i use the seaweed in the plot nothing wasted .

[dexterdoglancashire]

Last year I soaked some dried comfrey in water then diluted it further to feed my plants. I also got some nettle tops in a bag, soaked them in a barrel of water and then diluted it to feed my plants. Just watch out folks! they smell to high heaven! Bernie

[rosheen]

Hi I've made nettle feed and I have put seaweed on to rot down in winter but should I wash the seaweed before soaking it in water or is it OK to just lob it into the barrell?

[Marylou]

Throughout the year I keep adding comfrey, nettles, horse-dung collected from the nearby bridleway, borage (good for phosphorus) and seaweed, (I don't bother to wash it first), all as and when available, into a large plastic barrel of rainwater, and keep a big upturned plantpot on top as a lid. I give the whole lot a stir with a garden cane every few days, and use a jamjarful of the brew to a 2-gallon watering can at each watering. It is the only feed I use, and all the vegetables in pots and growbags on the patio and in the greenhouse thrive on it. The whole thing is done in a quite haphazard way, being an ongoing thing, with the water being topped up when the level gets to about halfway down. However, despite being so "approximate", this method has always been successful.

[growbag]

I have comfrey plants , planted last year so this year (now established) have made 3 cuts so far. Stuff them in a bucket with holes in the bottom with another bucket underneath & leave a few weeks. Dilute resulting brown liquid & feed.

[Seaweed Jack]

I've got five Comfrey plants at the allotment. I've taken two cuts this year so far. Once cut I put it all in a barrel but don't add water. After about four weeks it will have rotted down to leave a thick black tea which I then add about an inch to a watering can and use as a general feed around the plot. Letting it rot dry keeps the smell down a lot.

[Matt.]

Compost tea - Aerobic feed

I'm just about to try making compost tea. This is different from the feeds already mentioned because its an active feed not a leechate. It takes a bit more work but isn't hard. I think I've mentioned this before but can't remember. I'd be interested to know if other on here try this type of thing.

The idea is that the beneficial elements are the bacteria and fungi in the tea not just the nutrients. You deliberatly try to get the numbers of these bacteria to increase by giving them the right conditions to multiply. To do this you primarily need oxygen.

The set up I have just prepared (copied off the net) is as follows:

• Large bucket or barrel (mine is 35 litres)
• Aquarium pump rated at 250 litres per hour. Ideally this would be more.
• Aquarium air stones and bubblers
• Small mesh bag with a handful of fresh compost

You fill the barrel with green water ideally such as from a pond, well or rain water. This should contain the most bacteria and fungi to begin with. You can use tap water though just allow it to dechlorinate before use. The pump and air stones are connected so that the bubbles rise from the bottom of the barrel. The bag of compost is suspended in the water. Leave it running for at least 24 hours. You could add a small amount of mollasses as feed.

The bacteria naterally present in the compost will multiply as the bubbles provide lots of oxygen and the optimum conditions. It should look like a simmering pan of water. Importantly the feed should always smell earthy and fresh which is much more pleasant compared to the leechates. If its smells bad its no good and don't use it. Its proabaly gone anerobic. When the brew cycle is done use the tea as soon as possible ideally within four hours. Without the oxygen the bacteria will soon die. You can use the feed as a root soak or as a foliar feed (sprayed onto leaves) and it can be diluted as much or little as you like.

I've got my pump for £10 on ebay and plan to make my first batch later this week. Ideally I'll brew one or two batches per week. I'll get some photos of my set up but I'm copying these design from here:Deuley's Own - Media
You can also search on youtube for a suite of videos that show it being built and the related information.

[Two_Sheds]

I keep my liquid feed really simple.
Stuff a 4 pint plastic milk bottle with comfrey leaves. Top up with water. Put lid on. Leave outside (it stinks) for a couple of days/weeks.
Pour off liquid into watering can, top up can with water, water the plants.

Top up the milk bottle with more comfrey/water. Repeat ad infinitum.

[nick nack]

I have just started making liquid feed with comfrey and I agree with Two Sheds it really does stink

[maytreefrannie]

Home made liquid feed

I've used nettle manure a few times - nettles soaked in water and left for a few days or weeks. yes, it stinks to high heaven, but it makes a good feed for plants.
I was interested in the other plants people have mentioned - comfrey and borage - I'd love to try comfrey if I can get a few plants. Borage grows and self seeds in my garden. I love it, but I hadn't realised it could be used as a plant feed and now I plan to get that started first thing tomorrow.

[PurpleBecca]

WOW - I'm impressed! I've only been on the site 1hr

I've been 'playing' at a liquid feed with a bucket and nettles, but as a coincidence, I actually got my hands on a large plastic barrel with a lid only yesterday for making this a bit more official!

Now - about the lid? on tight - or do I need to let air in?

I like the 'chuck everything in method', I often get small amounts of horse manure and loads of nettles, borage isn't a problem - getting my husband to let me plant some seed might be - I'm banned from growing Borage and Rocket as he is a 'tidy' gardener and he doesn't like stuff that comes up in an unplanned manner - (My fennel is living on borrowed time!)

Thanks for the 'food for thought'