How to make your own free Organic Nettle Fertilizer

Stinging nettle (“Urtica dioica”) is one of the most beneficial ‘weeds’ out there, and luckily, it can be found all around the globe. However, despite its benefits, it’s also one of the most common nuisances in gardens, and many gardeners often strive to get rid of it due to its stinging properties. Here is how to both get rid of them and make a powerful, smelly, and nourishing nettle fertilizer!

Making your own free organic Nettle Fertilizer, or “fermented stinging nettle tea”, is very simple:

Stinging nettle supports plant health and stimulates growth. It is high in nitrogen, chlorophyll, and plant polyphenols. This powerful fertilizer is best used on plants that have a high demand for nourishment. You can use it on all your plants when they are seedlings and young transplants to help them develop. It works excellent on fruit trees and bushes, roses, annuals and perennial flowering plants. It works for tomatoes, leeks, brassicas, cucumbers and courgettes.

What you need for making Stinging Nettle Fertilizer:

• Gloves
• Scissor
• Bucket with lid
• Water
• Nettles

How to make Stinging Nettle Tea:

1. Harvest the Nettles

Using Gloves and scissor to avoid getting stung.

2. Place them in a basin or a bucket.

Trim if needed.

3. Mix with water

Fill the bucket with water, as much as you need or can.

4. Let stand and macerate for 2-3 weeks.

Your Fertilizer is ready! (NOTE: IT WILL SMELL! – And it should…)

5. Filter/strain off leafs.

You want a filtered and clean liquid.

6. Dilute and use!

Dilute the fertilizer with water in a ratio of 1:10. If you want to save the fertilizer, just strain off leaves and twigs and fill a container and store until use.

Tips on how to use the free organic Nettle fertilizer:

Spread nettle pulp on the compost pile. Use collected rainwater for the fertilizer tea, as it naturally contain occurring organisms that will hasten the fermentation process. If you keep using the high-nitrogen nettle fertilizer on flowering plants, you’ll have a lot of greenery but very few flowers or fruit. Stop using it on flowering plants once the plants begin to set flowers, but on non-flowering plants, you can keep using your stinging nettle fertilizer.

Bonus Tip for Nettles:

Not only can it be turned into a powerful but smelly fertilizer, but also used as a food source and a medicinal treatment. Don’t forget to gather some extra leaves for tea, nettles beer, sauté or stinging nettle pesto…

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