Prepare its nettle or comfrey manure

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Nettle… What a paradox, because behind this name with sometimes painful memories hides one of the most useful plants in the garden. In fact, the spicy nettle contains rare minerals, vitamins and nitrogen, all ingredients that promote plant growth. In certain regions with a "short season", mainly mountainous, it is interesting to accelerate the growth of the plants, at the risk that the cold season does not set in before the ripening of the fruits. More generally, the liquid manure will be used with measure to bring a little boost in the spring or to strengthen a plant that has just been transplanted. At too high a dose, it excessively promotes the foliage and hinders the natural work of soil microorganisms whose role is essential to the balance of the vegetable patch. Note that other plants, such as comfrey, also make excellent manure. Difficulty : easy Cost : free Tools required : - 2 buckets of approximately 20 liters each - 1 standard watering can of 12 liters - A colander - A pruner - Gloves - Rainwater

Step 1: Collect rainwater

The ideal is to make your liquid manure in rainwater. Rest assured, it also works with tap water, but tap water contains limestone and harmful elements (chlorine, iodine, ozone, etc.) which will destroy part of the microorganisms necessary for fermentation. liquid manure and slow down the process. This water must therefore be allowed to settle for 1 or 2 days.

In this example, a wheelbarrow placed under a roof overhang will do our job.

Step 2: Cut nettles

First, take care to protect yourself. Then cut the young shoots, those that have no seeds at the top. Avoid slopes where the nettles are yellowed, a sign of the recent passage of a weedkiller. Cut a good load of it, which will make it possible to obtain around twenty liters of this precious medicine.

Step 3: Fill the bucket

Fill a bucket without tamping. If you have pulled out the nettles, now is the time to remove the roots. You can cut the nettles into small pieces or leave them whole. This choice does not have much effect on the result. Your manure may be ready sooner if you cut it into small pieces, but there are other factors that are far more critical to its success.

Fill the bucket then place a flat stone on the nettles to hold them at the bottom so that they are submerged when you fill with water. It is better to use a bucket rather than a trash can which will be difficult to move and which will complicate handling during filtration.

Fill the bucket almost to the top. At this time you will have about 1 kg of nettles for 10 liters of water, the equivalent of a full watering can. Which is a good basis to start fermentation.

Step 4: Fermentation

In a few days, we will be able to remove the stone which will no longer be useful when stirring. Now put your bucket in a place where the temperature variations are small. In early summer, a sheltered place or a cellar will do the trick. Caution ! Nettle manure smells very bad, so avoid leaving it on the threshold of your door so as not to embalm your interior.

Stir with a stick every two or three days for 1 to 2 minutes. Fermentation will cause small bubbles on the surface, this is normal. When the bubbles will disappear or diminish, it will be time to take the next step. This usually occurs at the end of the first or second week, depending on the storage conditions.

Step 5: Filtration

Place a colander on the second bucket and pour your manure. The colander is ideal but a simple cloth - tulle, a cloth, or even a simple mop - can also do the trick. Again, contact with the manure skin is not recommended, because even when washed your hands will keep an odor for some time.

Step 6: Preparation

Use the graduations on the bucket (most have) to cut your manure with water. Count 1 liter of manure for 10 liters of water if you water, and 1 for 5 as a spray. In the latter case, it may not be unnecessary to filter again in a cloth to avoid clogging the orifice of the sprayer, think about it! The quantities indicated dilute the manure sufficiently so that it is not too virulent. You will adjust downward or upward based on your own experience.

Transfer the diluted liquid manure to a watering can. You can keep the remaining manure for a while in an airtight container. If you leave it in the open air the fermentation will continue at the risk of making it lose its precious properties.

And lo and behold, the tomatoes are celebrating!

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