IWCP  Garden Group:  meeting on Tuesday, 28^th February 2023

Special subject:  Sue Spence on "Natural Fertilizers"
Plants need potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen which are absorbed through the root system.   How do these work for plants?

Potassium:        https://www.cropnutrition.com/nutrient-management/potassium                        
                          helps form strong stems
                          plant growth
                          helps plants fight disease   

Phosphorus:      harvests the sun's energy and converting it into growth and reproduction                             helps form roots, seeds, flowers, fruit
                          helps plants fight disease

Nitrogen:           leaf growth
                         good leaf colour (nitrogen deficiency symptom is yellowing leaves

POINTS  TO  REMEMBER
·       Most natural fertilizers are a concentrate and need diluting
·       Most natural fertilizers are dark brown – LABEL  THE  BOTTLE  (give dilution ratio)
·       Be aware that the brown liquid will stain tiling so use a saucer under pots on tiles
·       Add around base of plants, not foliage
·       Fertilize plants during the growing period
·       Add fertilizer either after rain or after watering (wet earth absorbs liquid better)
·       If fertilizing vegetables,  DO  NOT water foliage (water carefully around base)
·       If making a smelly fertilizer, site away from the house

COFFEE  GROUNDS  (for potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen)
Coffee grounds
1 tsp. cinnamon
club soda water

Mix together with the club soda water and add to pot plants.
Dilution:  use undiluted
Use:        once a week

COFFEE  GROUNDS  (for acid-loving plants such as hortensia, parsley)
Add spent coffee grounds around the plant and fork in well as they will take moisture from the plant.

BANANA  PEEL  (rich in potassium and phosphorus).  Good for roses
Wash peel first to remove processing materials.
EITHER soak in water for 3 - 4 days, remove peel and spray undiluted liquid on the plants.
OR         chop skin into small pieces and dig deep into the earth around the plant
Dilution:  use undiluted
Use:       during growing period

WEED  TEA  (rich in nitrogen)   Small quantity
10 litre bucket
weeds
water

Fill bucket a quarter full of weeds then add water to the top and soak for a week.   Remove weeds and throw away (do not put them on your compost).  
Dilution:   use undiluted.

WEED  TEA   (BLACK  GUMBO)  Large quantity, anaerobic (without oxygen - smelly)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVF26Dza0uA

Large plastic barrel (needs lid to keep out mosquitos).  

Fill barrel with green garden refuse (without seeds or seed heads) and fill almost to the top with cold water, then top up with warm water.  Cover and leave for 2-4 months (VERY smelly).  Add seaweed and other organic material, it is a permanent, concentrated brew.

Dilution:  3:7  so 3 scoops black gumbo to 7 scoops water
Use:       every 2-3 weeks during growing period.

WEED  TEA  (aerobic = not smelly)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVF26Dza0uA
Large plastic barrel
plastic window box w/out holes to collect fluid
3 bricks
2 lengths wood
fine chicken wire (filter).    

Make holes in bottom of barrel to match collecting tray dimensions.Place 3 bricks in bottom of barrel with filter on top.   Fill with vegetation and add round flat disk with rock on top to weigh down vegetation.   As vegetation compacts & reduces keep adding vegetation to the top.   If making in summer months, add some water.   Concentrated liquid collects in container in 2-3 weeks in hot weather.
Dilution:  1:20  (½ litre feed to a 10 litre watering) can to begin with, cld increase to 1:10 later.
Use:        Apply every 2-3 weeks during growing period.

GRASS  CUTTINGS  TEA  (adds potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, chlophyl & amino acids)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUCgRSdcyoA
Grass cuttings + mesh bag
Water
Bucket

Do not use grass cuttings which have had any chemicals applied to them.  Place the grass cuttings into the mesh bag into the bucket and add water.   Steep for four days and strain off.
Dilution:  use undiluted
Use:       every 2 weeks to base of plants or spray on leaves

TEA  AND  PORRIDGE  OATS  (for nitrogen) 
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aComOG01DxU
1 teabag
1 tblsp. porridge oats
skin of one banana (optional)
500ml water

Empty teabag into a large jar, add the porridge oats and banana skin and half a litre of boiling water.   Allow to stand for one hour then strain the liquid through a sieve.
Dilution:  use undiluted
Use:        Feed the plants every three weeks.

COMPOST  TEA  (Les Secrets de Nos Grandperes)
This can also be made with a good quality commercial compost if you don’t have home-made compost

A square or round of jute (50cm)
A length of string
Container
water
3 handfuls of well-matured compost
2.5 litres of water

Place the compost in the centre of the jute and close tightly with the string.   Fill the container with the water and soak the bagged compost in the water for 5 to 8 days and stir once every day.   Water plants at the base with the undiluted “tea”.   If using this tea for vegetables, take care not to water the foliage.
Dilution:  use undiluted
Use:       every 2 weeks in the spring then every month in the summer

EGGSHELLS  (calcium and potassium, lowers acidity in the soil)
Wash eggshells inside and out, then dry and crush them finely with mortar and pestle..

EITHER   spread crushed shell around the plant.   The shell will be absorbed by the earth
OR    put in saucepan and add water.   Bring to the boil and boil for 2 – 3 minutes then cool.
Dilution:   use undiluted
Use:         could also be a deterrent for slugs (along with holly leaves)

WOOD  ASH  (rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVF26Dza0uA
This fertilizer will hardly change the Ph of the soil.

Wood ash (must not have been exposed to rain which washes away minerals.
Rain water
Container

Mix ash and water together at 1:5 ratio and stir well to create a concentrated mix.
Dilution:  1 cup (250 ml) of concentrated fertiliser to 4 litres of water (1 cup : 1 gallon)
Use:        once a week

COMFREY  (rich in potassium, nitrogen, phospherus - promotes plant growth and kills parasites).   Difficult to buy plants so have to grow from seed

1 kg comfrey leaves
Large plastic container
Lidded plastic bottles for storage

Roughly chop the leaves and place in a plastic container with 10 litres of water.   Soak for one month, stirring every day, until there are no more bubbles on the surface.  Sieve the liquid and store in lidded plastic bottles (keeps for approx, six months in airtight container).    

Dilution:   1:20 ratio (one cup comfrey to 20 cups water) if spraying foliage
                OR 1:4 if watering the base of the plants
Use:         once a week for tomatoes (once the fiowers have set) and on plants needing a pick-
                me-up.   If using for edible plants stop using one month before harvesting.

NETTLES (Urtica dioica)  Difficult to buy plants, so have to grow from seed.   OR  buy ready-made liquid called Purin d’Ortie (concentrate, needs diluting)
Grow in moist soil in a constricted area (remember those nettles in UK?).   This is a very foul smelling process so do not do it inside the house or garage.  

EITHER   Buy a length of flat flexible metal or thick plastic used for restricting bamboo plants,
                make an overlapping circle and bury in the ground with 5cm showing above soil.  
OR           grow in large plastic pots and keep the earth moist.   The plant is deciduous so no
                leaves in winter months.   

Propagation is by lateral roots – dig up a plant and cut the root |(with fine roots leading off the thicker root) into 5cm lengths and plant several in a large pot.   Keep near the house as it need frequent watering.

Seeds:  https://www.graines-et-bio.fr/graines-bio-aromatiques-et-medicinales/graines-bio-ortie-dioique-711?ads=googleshopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo-yfBhD_ARIsANr56g4zKf6nCOM_q0SUI-oFGdN4nHkFPEXfa0fXQOYuKhGbkPIfUHyAF_waAqBhEALw_wcB
Cost:  €3.20  free delivery

Nettle leaves
Container with lid
Water

Fill a bucket with chopped nettle leaves.   Cover with water, place lid loosely on top (do not fasten) and soak for 1 - 2 weeks, stirring daily until there are no more surface bubbles.   Strain the liquid into plastic bottles with screw lids and put the nettle solids onto the compost.  

Dilution:  1:10 with water (do not dilute large quantities and store, dilute just enough for
               immediate use).   The concentrate liquid will last for six months.

Use:        every 4-6 weeks either to the base of the plant OR by spraying the foliage where it
               acts as an insect repellant..   Good to spray on foliage of roses

 
SASKIA’S  NETTLE  &  LENTIL SOUP  

Ingredients:         100g nettle tops (i.e. small leaves)
                            100g puy lentils (green)
                            ½ litre stock
                            1 small onion
                            1 ½ tbsp. olive oil
                            Juice of half a lemon
                            150 ml yhoghurt or buttermilk
                            1 clove of garlic
                            Salt and pepper to taste

                            50g chopped mixed herbs (sorrel, parsley, cherval, tarragon, lovage & thyme)

Method:
Wash the lentils and pick over carefully, removing any small stones and put in a large pan with the stock.  Bring to the boil and simmer until they are soft, approximately 45 minutes.  

Peel and chop the onion.  Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion until soft and golden. Half way through the frying, add the chopped garlic.  Wash the nettles and add them to the cooked lentils.  Cook the mixture for another 5 minutes till the nettles have softened.  Add the onion, garlic and mixed herbs.  Blend the soup till smooth.  Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and the yoghurt or buttermilk and serve hot.