I want to share a secret with you so you can get amazing harvests in your garden too. I’m going to tell you how you can make your own liquid fertilizer using things you might already have in your garden. Getting amazing harvests is part luck and part science. You need to understand your land to be able to get the best from it but it doesn’t hurt to give it an extra boost throughout the growing season with a liquid fertilizer.
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Using Natural Liquid Fertilizer
I was concerned about the poor performance of the garden this year, especially with the poor soil structure, lack of rain and the extremely long, hot summer we’ve had. The garden was showing signs of an early autumn so I began experimenting with fertilizer recipes by using stuff I had in the garden already to give the plants a nutrient boost they desperately needed to help give another crop before the fall really sets in.
I’m super thrifty as of late so I didn’t want to spend any money on buying an organic fertilizer from the store and I had made liquid fertilizers before but had a lot of trouble with mosquitoes in doing so. I improved the technique for making the fertilizers and shared them in an article for Mother Earth News all about how to make natural organic fertilizers at home. I really recommend using mosquito dunks
You can read the article here: Make Your Own Natural Liquid Fertilizers
I’m big on sourcing things locally where possible and being a self sustaining urban homestead, so making my own organic liquid fertilizer using manure from the chickens and weeds seemed to be a logical step in maintaining the holistic environment I am creating in my backyard.
Natural Liquid Fertilizer Recipes
How about making a liquid fertilizer from grass clippings? They’re high in nitrogen and makes a good fertilizer for leafy greens like cabbage, kale, Brussels Sprouts, chard and collards.
- 1 bucket full of cut grass
- water
- Fill a lidded bucket with cut grass and add water.
- Cover the bucket with the lid and leave for 2-4 weeks.
- Strain the liquid from the sludgy grass in the bucket into another container such as old jars.
- Use about 1/2 cup in a 2 gallon watering can to feed your garden.
- 2 weeks in summer should be sufficient to turn the grass into a suitable feed, it will take longer in cooler temperatures.
- Addition of rockdust can help add other trace elements to the fertilizer.
- Check the containers periodically by opening them up to release any gasses which may form.
- If you don't want to strain the liquid, don't use the rose head on the watering can as it will clog up.
I love growing comfrey to add to my natural liquid fertilizers to give them a boost. Comfrey has deep roots which pull up nutrients from deep in the soil. You can use the leaves in the following easy liquid fertilizer that is really popular with English gardeners:
Step 1
When your comfrey plant is large, cut back some of the leaves and stems from your comfrey plants.
Step 2
Roughly chop them with scissors or pruning shears and place them into the bucket.
Step 3
Cover the comfrey with water and lightly cover with the lid.
Step 4
Stir regularly and replace lid. In summer, it takes about 2 weeks for the comfrey in water to be ready to use.
Another popular easy liquid fertilizer to make is with banana skins! Save your banana skins and place into a a large wide mouth jar. You want about half banana skins and half water to make this fertilizer. Chopping up the banana skins helps them break down more quickly. Use about a cup of the fertilizer to a 2 gallon watering can and feed your plants close to the roots. Bananas are rich in potassium and can help with growth and reproduction of your plants.
Related Post: Instant Compost Tea
Summary of Natural Liquid Fertilizers
Liquid fertilizers can be made from many plants which you already have one the homestead. Place your plant materials in the container and top it up with water and allow it to steep for 2 to 4 weeks. Use 1 cup of natural liquid fertilizer in a 2 gallon watering can and feed about once a week. Why are you not giving homemade liquid fertilizers a try in your garden or urban homestead and seeing how your garden grows?
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