Plant food for growing veg?

A._Badger

Just remember, sparklygemster, that some branded tomato fertilisers don't have anything in them, other than N, P and K (Tomorite, for example). The makers say this doesn't matter because the crops for which they're intended don't live for long enough to suffer from deficiencies in other minerals than Magnesium which (if memory serves) Tomorite does include..

I don't agree with them and prefer to use high-potash feeds which do have trace elements (Phostrogen, Maxicrop, Chempak etc). If you haven't yet bought one, it would be worth seeking one out that has everything in it, or switching to one like that when the first pack runs out.

Can't help you with indoor crops, I'm afraid - though it sounds interesting!

Jolaaled

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Nettles also make a good liquid fertiliser and that brew will be high in nitrogen.


I make up a mixed liquid fertiliser of comfrey, nettles, grass clipping, couch grass roots and urine, using whatever I have

Please could you give instructions on how to make a liquid fertilizer...i've lots of nettles in my garden!
thanks.

Lotus-eater

Sure, you get a big bucket, I use a 5 gallon old brewing bin, chuck in everything you want to convert into plant food, fill with water, cover (cos it stinks) and stir whenever you remember. Use a stick and not your best silverware

Nettles are high in nitrogen, so any weeds and weed roots you have chuck in there as well for extra nutrients.

You can leave it as long as you want, the longer you leave it the stronger it gets. Always dilute it down to around very weak tea colour with water and it should be fine.
Works well as a spray or watered over the leaves with a can, or just poured on the ground.

Its worth straining it before using as it can have bits of plants in it, which can block up your watering can rose and certainly your sprayer.

ixwood

Or pop some in a empty milk jug, fill with water and shake every couple of days. You can make ongoing batches and have less smell to put up with cos it's sealed.

greenfingeredsteve

yeh comfrey and nettles are defo the best with a mix of urine /manure and wood fire ash

Lotus-eater

Do you use ash in the liquid feed? Never thought of that before. As I know it is washed away very easily when you apply it directly to the beds, maybe soaking it would help it hang around a bit longer?