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Last Updated on August 10 , 2023
It is almost spring , and that means the nettles are on their way ! Do stinging nettle grow rampantly in your area ? If so , you ’re in luck . Because that mean you have an abundance of destitute and mythic fertilizer – right at your fingertips ! Uh , gloved fingertips that is . Read along to get wind about the benefits of stinging nettle , how to well harvest it , and how to turn it into homemade fermented nettle plant food teatime . The other plants in your garden will flourish in return !
What is Stinging Nettle?
Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica , also sleep with as unwashed nettle or nettle leaf ) is anherbaceous recurrent plant life . It commonly pops up each spring , and easily spread after flower and going to seed . Nettle is native to Europe but now develop in moist fertile soil virtually throughout the world . If you ’re forage for groundless nettles , search inshady and moistlocations like along creeks .
Stinging nettle is often reckon a “ pot ” due to its wanton growth habits . It also catches a bad wrap as a yobo ( admittedly justified ) by causing apainful itch and burning sensationto those who come in contact with the sharp hairs that cover its leaves . An inflammatory nettle skin rash is uncomfortable , but impermanent and not dangerous . what is more , after reading about the star benefits of sting nettle , perhaps you ’ll realize that nettle can be even more of an asset than a pain in the neck !
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Health benefits of stinging nettle
herbalist , naturopaths , and many organic gardeners recognise sting nettle as a favorable plant to have around – given its legion andwell - researchedhealing properties . Compounds discover in nettle make it fantabulous atfighting bacterial infections , reducing excitement and arthritis , relieve pain , ease allergic reaction symptom , stabilise blood carbohydrate level , and more . In fact , this innate nettle quercetinis the only “ allergic reaction pill ” I take – and I am quite sensitive to environmental allergens !
How to prepare fresh stinging nettles
for reap the welfare of stinging nettle , they postulate to be “ Delaware - stung ” first . ( That is , if you require to consume them yourself ) . The best and easiest way to cook brisk stinging nettle is toblanch them in water . The abbreviated exposure to in high spirits heating plant neutralizes the stinging hairs . Rinse them afterwards , which duplicate as wash them as well .
Now , you could enjoy the blanched and rinsed nettles fresh , juiced , added to soup , frozen , ordehydratedinto teatime or pulverization for later economic consumption . Nettles are delicious and gross , like a crossbreed between spinach and rocket salad . I suggest sautéing them in EVOO with salinity , pepper , and even a little Allium sativum or onion – much like you would kale or other leafy greens .
Okay , that is all fine and dandy … but is n’t this article about stinging nettle fertiliser ? How does nettle gain other industrial plant ?
Why Make Stinging Nettle Fertilizer Tea
As a vegetarian and avid organic nurseryman , I obtain it exceedingly rewarding to be able to create our ownfree and instinctive plant - base fertilizer . Plants run plants , if you will . For example , by making variousbotanical teasor fermented plant juice – which is what we are doing today . The process is even better when the plant component fall from our garden , or can be forage for topically ! We also like to routinely eat our seedling , freshly - planted trees and other plants withhomemade aloe vera soil drench . Of naturally , compost at homeis the ultimate way to create free organic plant food .
The benefits of stinging nettle fertilizer for plants
Stinging nettle belongs to a peculiar grouping of plants referred to as“dynamic accumulator register ” , which also includes milfoil , borage , fava bean plant , comfrey , dandelion , miner ’s clams , and mouse-ear chickweed . Those “ dynamic accumulators ” readily take up food and mineral from the soil , and then store them in extremely bioavailable forms and concentrations in their farewell . This make nettles ( and all other dynamic accumulators ! ) an excellent nutritive - rich addition to botanical teatime , homemade fertilizers , mulch , or to a compost muckle .
Scientific studiesshow that fresh stinging nettle leaves areloaded withhigh concentrations of vitaminsA , C , D , E , F , K , phosphorus , and vitamin B - complexes , as well as large amounts ofmineralsincluding Ca , Se , zinc , Fe , magnesium and more . As a leafy special K , sting nettle is also high in atomic number 7 , chlorophyll , and plant polyphenols – all of whichbolster works wellness and excite growth . Plant polyphenolsin fussy are potent antioxidants , fight cancer , and boost the immune system .
While industrial plant may not get arthritis or cancer in the same style humans do , plants do have an immune system – and can get nauseated ! Therefore , the same compounds that make nettle awesome for human health render many of the same benefits to plants . For deterrent example , plants treated with sting nettle fertilizer areless susceptible to certain diseasesdue to nettles ’ anti - bacterial and anti - fungal properties . Plants with a strong resistant system are alsoless negatively impacted by pests or tension , such as drought , heat , or other unfavorable consideration .
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE NETTLE FERTILIZER TEA
INSTRUCTIONS
I will go ahead and air the filthy laundry now : ferment stinging nettle tea fertilizerstinks . vainglorious time ! So much so , that it ’s sometimes refer to as “ nettle manure ” . Or as I like to call it : stink Nettle Tea . Therefore , I strongly suggest you make your twinge nettle fertilizer outside somewhere and not in your garage or household . Please do n’t rent the funky perfume deter you from piddle nettle tea!But do n’t say I did n’t warn you .
Steps to Make Stinging Nettle Fertilizer Tea
How to Use Stinging Nettle Tea as Fertilizer
Nettle Camellia sinensis is very potent , and therefore needs to be watered down before using it to feed other plant in your garden . To thin it into a usable fertiliser , ruffle 1 part brewed nettle tea to 10 parts water . For example , one dry quart of nettle tea to 10 quart of piddle . We get hold it easiest to dilute and integrate a small portion of nettle plant food in a separate container as - needed ( straight off before utilisation ) , rather than debase a vast batch and stack away it all .
Nettle tea soil drench
After diluting , but water your plants of choice with it as a“soil drench ” , much like you would with other liquid fertiliser . The recommended dose look on the size of the industrial plant or container . A smaller flora or smoke will be glad with just a loving cup or two . To feed larger plants or an intact raised garden bed with nettle tea , stress applying it with a watering can equally across the soil . When in doubt , depart with smaller feedings , see how the flora react , and go from there .
palpate complimentary to repeat nettle fertilizer tea applicationsonce every monthor two , but not more often than every 3 week . Because of the aroma , I personally avoid using nettle teatime to feed houseplants – though it can be done ! I stick to usingcompost teaordilute seaweed extractindoors .
How to use stinging nettle tea foliar spray
In addition to start the grease and roots , you’re able to also spray diluted nettle tea onto a plant ’s leaves . When put on as a foliar spray , stinging nettle tea employment as astrong louse repellant . The active compounds in sting nettle are report to deter aphids , speck , and thrips . Even more , plants readily steep nutrients through the leaves , entering their vascular systems even more quickly than those taken up by their stem .
To make nettle foliar spray , be sure that your brew nettle tea leaf has beenstrained very wellwith a fine mesh strainer . Otherwise , leftover plant cloth will well choke off your atomiser . This time , dilute 1 part nettle Camellia sinensis to 20 parts waterand add it to your spray of choice . It is unspoilt practice to practice any type of foliar sprays in theevening hoursonce the industrial plant is out of direct sunshine . This reduce the risk of sunburn to wet leaves , and is the time when beneficial insects are least active . Spray the leave of absence until they ’re soundly coated and dripping .
Due to the stinking scent , we generally avoid spraying leafy green like kale or lettuce with nettle tea . Or , directly on to fruit and veg . However , nettle tea foliar spray is excellent for things like hemp ( before flowering ) , ornamental flora , or tomato , peppers , eggplant or yield tree – before their yield appears .
So simple, right?
