NETTLE TEA

[Compo]

Have just made some nettle tea, method was to put a bunch of nettles stalks and all in a black builders bucket full of water, cover and leave for week.....stunk to high heaven and I poured it neat onto my toms and pumpkins.

Q. Did I make it right?
Q. Do I need to use anything else for my toms and cucubits etc?

Cheers

Compo

[Lyn]

Hi Compo -
That should be O.K. Once the nettles and water start to smell, it means they have started to break down and rot, and start to be effective. The plants will love it. Some people leave it to ferment for a bit longer, e.g. three weeks or even longer, but that makes the brew more concentrated, and it then needs to be diluted before applying to the plants. The plants will probably need more feeding as the season progresses - cucurbits are very greedy. Toms also like a bit extra potassium, such as a comfrey feed.
Regards, Lyn

[Myrkk]

Personally I prefer to put a few leaves in a teapot and add some hot water. Leave for a few minutes and then pour adding a little honey as a sweetener

[melliff]

I came across this web page (http://www.nettles.org.uk//nettles/people/garden.asp) which suggests that as well as being a valuable fertiliser, nettle tea, if sprayed on foliage acts as a deterrent to some pests. Anyone have evidence of this? If so, which pests?

Martin.

[Chantal]

I've heard about them deterring blackfly on broad beans but I confess I've never used it as I don't grow broad beans.

[bigpepperplant]

as far as i understand it, nettle tea is a very good source of nitrogen so great for leafy crops, but not particularly high in potash, so tomatoes and courgettes will probably need a high potassium feed as well, such as a tomato feed or one made from comfrey.

[Compo]

Can I use wood ash to supplment this?

Compo

[bigpepperplant]

sounds a good plan - wood ash a very good source of potash - just try not to apply just before rain because the nutrients wash out quickly apparently