Organic Liquid Fertilizers

Making liquid fertilizers requires no real skills, simply access to suitable materials. In general, a bucket is half filled with the raw material and topped up with water. It is then allowed to ferment for about a month.

Good products for mixing fertilizers are

• Seaweed
• Water weed
• Comfrey
• General greenery
• Manure
• Urine

Foliar Sprays

Liquid manures are often used for making foliar sprays. That is a product which is sprayed onto the leaves of plants. However, do not spray onto the edible parts of vegetables and ensure that they are thoroughly washed when picked. The spraying should be done in the late afternoon and, if possible, the undersides of the leaves are sprayed. If using as a spray, ensure that the solids are filtered out so that the spray nozzle is not blocked. Dilution rates can be cut by two thirds if the fertilizer is applied directly to the soil around the plant. The residual mass of organic matter can be put onto the compost heap. The ferment is rather smelly so keep it away from the house if possible.

Seaweed

There are many seaweed products on the market and most are very effective fertilizers as they contain many soil-enriching chemicals such as nitrogen, iron, sodium, and calcium. They are particularly rich in bromine and iodine.Collect the seaweed (if it is legal to do so) and rinse the salt off. Chop up the weed and half fill a 2 gallon (10 liter) bucket which is topped up with water. Loosely cover and let ferment for a few weeks. Strain and dilute about 20 times. It is more effective if you are able to collect samples of different seaweeds, especially if they have different colors and so a different mix of elements.

Waterweeds

Waterweeds growing in ponds and streams are often invasive pests, so harvesting them and using them for composting and manuring serves a dual purpose. Weeds such as cabomba, dense water weed, water hyacinth, salvinia and water lettuce will all supply useful nutrients to plants. Like seaweed, they are chopped into pieces and allowed to ferment for a month. Water Hyacinths are able to take up nutrients from polluted waters. Because of this, the root section should be discarded and only the green top used. Strain and dilute to a weak tea color.

Comfrey

Comfrey has been a favorite with Permaculturists and organic growers. It has value because it is easy to grow and its deep taproots bring up many minerals from parts of the soil not usually accessed by shallower rooted garden plants.The problem with comfrey is that it is very difficult to eradicate once it is growing in your garden. Choose its position carefully as even the slightest sliver of root will regrow. To make a fertilizer chop or tear the big dark green leaves and half fill a bucket and pour on a quart (1 liter) of very hot water to speed the decomposition. Leave this for an hour and then fill the bucket with cold water. Cover loosely and allow to ferment. Strain and dilute 10 times.

General greenery

Collect a mass of bits and pieces of grass and weeds and hedge trimmings and treat as for comfrey. Let ferment for a month at least.

Manure

Poultry manure, which is very strong but high in the essential elements potassium and nitrogen, may ‚”burn” plants if used directly. Allowed to ferment in water at the rate of 2 pounds (I kilogram) to 2 gallons (10 liters), strain and use the liquid diluted 10 to 15 times.

Urine

Allow a quart (Liter) of urine to ferment without dilution in a bucket. After a week, the bucket is filled with water. Apply as a general tonic. This fertiliser should be not be used regularly in the same place as it is for occasional use.

Liquid fertilizers are easy to make and apply, save expense and avoid the over-use of synthetic fertilizers.