Allotments 4 All

Is there any scientific evidence as to why a mixture of nettles and grass cuttings added to water,would not be ready after about a week..............surely nutritional value would be available in such a liquid feed after draining it off WITHOUT the need to wait for a couple of months?

A week's too quick as they won't have had time to rot down. If you use poo it'll be ready in a week.

I,m aware they wont have rotted down in a week..........................what I would like to know is if there is a moderate or even a good nutritional value in the week old liquid which is drained off.

Im sorry I cant answer that Geomet, I just want to say welcome to the site :D

Not a lot I wouldn't have thought. Why drain it off?

I,m certainly not convinced there wouldnt be some added nutritional value even after a week so I intend to get a few containers going................it has to be drained off if used in the greenhouse for instance......the "sludge" will go onto the compost heap of course

i normally use mine after 2-3 weeks, it STINKS though so let me know how u get on with using it after only soakig for a week!

What about Sheep poo that makes good liquid fertilizer ;)

we get horse manure delivered, do sheep get fed with anti biotics like cows do? if not, i'd be interested in trying some, how do u get hold of it?

wandering around with a dustpan and bucket!!!
;D

Rosie,
          From what I have been told  the food that horses eat  goes straight through their system which means  that any seeds in their feed goes straight into the ground, so you could have a lotty of oats or wheat :)

Thanks for your welcome message Star............................well I have got a batch started today....nettles plus grass......My hope is that EVEN after a shortish period of say a week,the liquid in that container will have a moderate nutritional value.My reasoning and i,m not a scientist is that a chemical reaction will be taking place immediatly and HOPEFULLY the liquid will be marginally better than just water after a week.....I find the whole aspect of homemade liquid feeds extremely interesting and would be grateful for any input to learn more on the subject

Quote from: Geomet on April 20, 2008, 18:29:46
Thanks for your welcome message Star............................well I have got a batch started today....nettles plus grass......My hope is that EVEN after a shortish period of say a week,the liquid in that container will have a moderate nutritional value.My reasoning and i,m not a scientist is that a chemical reaction will be taking place immediatly and HOPEFULLY the liquid will be marginally better than just water after a week.....I find the whole aspect of homemade liquid feeds extremely interesting and would be grateful for any input to learn more on the subject

Hi fella, after our chat today I am going to give this a go, as you know the nettles go as mad as you like from the gates and all the way down the outside of my garden wall so I will be gathering them up if you don't beat me to them ;D.

Cheers
Tony

Sure do Tony.................I aint gonna tell you about the ones on the east and south fence though....ooooopppppps...awe well...first come first served

Just a thought anyone, but would this work using the kitchen waste that we collect and throw on the compost heap?.

Cheers
Tony

IMO....(in my opinion) thats a lot of bulk to work QUICKLY Tony....far better on your compost heap.........my son and my daughter give me a regular supply of that

hiya, geomet, welcome to the site, don't see why it wouldn't work, we let stuff stew for longer and add nettles and docks to the comfrey mix  ;D

Apparently the nettle "stew" needs to ferment before you get the full benefit.

Its is supposed to be ready after its stopped "bubbling"

Quote from: Mr Smith on April 20, 2008, 11:32:03
What about Sheep poo that makes good liquid fertilizer ;)

I wonder if sheeps poo is safe, after all it is sheep who contaminate watercress  with liver fluke from their droppings.

Quote from: Fork on April 20, 2008, 20:14:49
Apparently the nettle "stew" needs to ferment before you get the full benefit.

Its is supposed to be ready after its stopped "bubbling"

Indeed it does, there will be some limited benefit from just having nettles in water for a week but why not wait 6-8 weeks and get the full benefit?