Whether you are looking to save some money this season, want a more sustainable option for fertilizing your garden, or are just interested in trying something new, making your own liquid fertilizers is free and easy to do. To get you started, let’s cover the basics:
- What -- Liquid fertilizers provide crops a nutrient ‘boost.’ Instead of granular fertilizers that release their nutrients over time, liquid fertilizers provide immediately available nutrients to your plants.
- Who -- Liquid fertilizers are ideal for use on young seedlings as they use up their initial nutrient reserves, container grown plants that rely entirely on their growers for their nutrients, and cold weather crops as a boost until the soil warms and makes nitrogen available.
- When -- Liquid fertilizers are short acting and can be used just when plants need them. They should be used no more than once every two weeks.
- Why -- The very basics on plant nutrition are that nitrogen helps plants grow new stems and leaves; phosphorus is important for rooting, and potassium helps plants use water and prevent drought.
- How -- To make these fertilizers, the recipes are below. Before using them, it is important to remember that you should relieve drought stress before using the liquid fertilizer. Watering before you fertilize helps protect plants from taking up too many salts. It is also a good idea to use a colander to remove the roughage in your liquid fertilizers.
Note: Many of the materials you can find in your own backyard, but if you can't, and want a local source, post a wanted ad on Craigslist or Freecycle. In Loudoun County there are many farmers who would share their chicken and horse manure with those who can come and collect it.
Tea Recipes:
Dried chicken manure with wood shavings: Using a 5-gallon bucket, fill 1/5 bucket full of material, add water, sit for three days, strain and then dilute 1:1 with water.
Seaweed: Using a 5-gallon bucket, fill 1/5 bucket full of material, add water, sit for three days, strain then use directly on plants.
Fresh grass clippings: Using a 5-gallon bucket, fill 2/3 bucket with material, add water, sit for three days, strain and dilute 1:1 with water.
For the full article on this topic, see Mother Earth News.
You can also make compost tea, which is a bit more complicated since it requires aeration, but still a good option for making your own fertilizer. Check out these videos on how to make your own compost tea.
If you can't make your own liquid fertilizers but still want the benefits, check out Abernathy & Spencers Green Shop in Purcellville, VA, to purchase fish and seaweed fertilizers that are pre-made. You can also find these online!
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