Author Topic: NON SMELLY WAY TO MAKE COMFREY OR NETTLE FERTILISER? (Read 8572 times)

Duke Ellington · « **on:** March 21, 2012, 23:09:10 »

Does anyone have a way to keep the smell contained while it is stewing?
How long does it need to stew?
Duke

lottie lou · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2012, 00:03:22 »

I use a bucket with holes in the bottom on top of another bucket. Put the comfrey leaves in the top one, weight down with a brick and cover. The juce drops though into the bottom bucket. It only niffs a bit whilst you are transferring the juice into other containers. Haven't tried it with nettles but may do so this year.

Digeroo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2012, 08:33:35 »

Does it work properly if it does not stink ;D ;D

louise stella · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2012, 08:38:43 »

I just stick it in an old water butt, not conected to a downpipe!
Drain some off into a can and dilute and use!

raisedbedted · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2012, 09:57:14 »

Stewing it in water always stinks, so I just fill an old barrel with comfrey leaves, dont add water or even weight it, after a month the black syrup oozes out and I pour it out, it doesnt smell that strong but needs diluting much more than if you'd steeped the leaves in water.

And stewed nettles are even worse!

lottie lou · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2012, 10:04:37 »

Would nettles work the same without stewing. If so I've got I've got loooads of nettles

macmac · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2012, 10:10:17 »

Quote from: lottie lou on March 22, 2012, 00:03:22

I use a bucket with holes in the bottom on top of another bucket. Put the comfrey leaves in the top one, weight down with a brick and cover. The juice drops though into the bottom bucket. It only niffs a bit whilst you are transferring the juice into other containers. Haven't tried it with nettles but may do so this year.

After years of smelly "soup" in a water butt I adopted the bucket method ,and then someone donated I think they're called Bokashi bins,It's the same thing ('tho I believe is properly used a bit like a wormery) It has a tap on it so I just feed comfrey leaves in the top and drain comfrey liquor via the tap. :)

Duke Ellington · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2012, 11:34:58 »

I was flicking through the latest Lakeland catalogue and found this.

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/51997/Plant-Food-Maker;jsessionid=8F2E15FCAF606E7CCD0FB4C511679DD0.app1

At £20 it's a bit pricey but it looks neat.

Duke

grannyjanny · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2012, 13:27:32 »

Duke that looks very like the bokashi composting bin but without the bran added. I have one & was thinking about using it to make comfrey fertilizer in. You might find something similar on ebay or even the bokashi one. The bokashi I have doesn't let any aromas out ;D. Big bonus as when you use it as directed the stuff honks when it's rotted down.

lillian · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2012, 16:04:26 »

Quote from: Duke Ellington on March 21, 2012, 23:09:10

Does anyone have a way to keep the smell contained while it is stewing?
How long does it need to stew?
Duke

Brewed mine up in a 3 litre squash bottle with the lid lightly screwed on which seems to stop the whiffs.

Digeroo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2012, 16:39:37 »

Quote

Brewed mine up in a 3 litre squash bottle

Sounds good but how did you get the comfrey in? Perhaps a 5 litre one would be better they have a larger top.

lillian · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:19:38 »

The 3 litre squash bottles have a slightly wider lid. I just chop the compfrey up and shuv it in :)
Or you could dry the leaves in the sun, scrunch them up and store it for later use.

Tulipa · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2012, 18:28:57 »

I'm glad my allotment is upwind of yours ;) ;)

Duke Ellington · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2012, 18:46:48 »

You're in big trouble now Tulipa :P

Duke ;D

Ninnyscrops. · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2012, 23:38:39 »

If you have wheelie bins Duchess, go to the local council and find out where the damaged ones are. They will usually give them to you for free, put a tap in at the base and raise so you can fill old plastic bottles with the smelly stuff. ;)

Ninnyssssssssssssssss
(Proud owner of two ;D)

pumkinlover · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2012, 07:44:16 »

That looks great! When you say damaged how bad is it? The bin looks fine, what I mean is what type of damage makes them taken out of service, but are still usable for allotments? I will be on to our council to get some!

Ninnyscrops. · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2012, 18:55:22 »

These two have damaged "lips", where the lifting gear would normally fit, Pumpkinlover. Others may have similar minor damage such as the hole where the lid handle is, and as you say, perfectly usable for the allotment. Have a word as they are quite happy to get rid of them.

Ninnys

pumkinlover · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2012, 18:59:11 »

Thanks Ninnys :) will do

Borlotti · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2012, 20:47:01 »

There are a lot worse smells, won't go into the details. I don't mind the smell of my rotting nettle leaves, and my peas were brilliant last year, the envy of everyone on the allotment, so there. ;D ;D Maybe luck, or the nettle feed I gave them.

lottie lou · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2012, 23:22:15 »

Do you soak the nettle leave sin water and do you put the stalks in as well?

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Author Topic: NON SMELLY WAY TO MAKE COMFREY OR NETTLE FERTILISER? (Read 8572 times)

pumkinlover

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