I’ve always loved gardening and in the early days of my gardening I used to use onion, potato or banana peels – never synthetic chemicals only organic – to help my plants grow. But one day I discovered stinging nettle fertilizer and that’s when I really got to see what my garden was capable of.
This natural, nutrient dense fertilizer has become my go-to for healthier, stronger plants. Today I’m going to share my experience and tell you why stinging nettle fertilizer might be the secret ingredient your garden needs.
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What is Stinging Nettle Fertilizer?
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is that plant you’ve probably side-eyed and is often dismissed as a pesky weed due to its stinging hairs that can cause a rash when touched.
However, this plant is a hidden gem for gardeners. When fermented into a liquid fertilizer, stinging nettle becomes a power serum of nutrients, including nitrogen, iron, magnesium, and trace minerals.
These elements are essential for plant growth, making nettle fertilizer an excellent organic alternative to synthetic options.
Why Should You Use Stinging Nettle Fertilizer?
It’s Free (Seriously)
Nettles are easy-to-find plants that grow almost everywhere. If you’ve got nettles growing nearby—and chances are you do—this fertilizer costs nothing. Even if you buy dried nettles online, it’s cheaper than most store-bought options.
Packed with Nutrients
Stinging nettle is rich in nitrogen, which promotes lush, green foliage, and magnesium, which aids in photosynthesis. It also contains potassium, calcium, and iron, all of which contribute to overall plant health.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable
Synthetic fertilizers work, but they’re like feeding your plants junk food. Nettle fertilizer is all-natural, biodegradable, and won’t turn your soil into a dead zone. It’s a sustainable choice that supports a healthier ecosystem.
Natural Pest Repellent
Surprisingly, stinging nettle fertilizer can also help prevent pests like aphids and mites. Aphids hate the smell of fermenting nettles, and their strong smell acts as a natural repellent, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
My First Experience with Stinging Nettle Fertilizer
I picked a bucket of nettles (wearing thick gloves, of course!), chopped them up, and let them steep in water for a few weeks.
The smell was unforgettable. But when I diluted the mixture and applied it to my plants, the results were astounding.
How to Make Stinging Nettle Fertilizer
Making your own stinging nettle fertilizer is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
What You’ll Need:
- Fresh stinging nettles
- A large bucket or container (with a lid—trust me)
- Water (rainwater or distilled water works best) If you only have tap water, leave it in a bucket under the sun for 24 hours. This will help the chlorine evaporate.
- Gloves, long sleeves, and protective clothing
- A sturdy stick
- Brick or large stone
- Rainwater is the best choice because it’s free from chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals that could reduce the benefits of nettles.
- Tip: You can place the nettle trimmings in a cloth bag, tie it shut, and then add water. This works like a giant tea bag and makes straining the fertilizer much easier later on.
Step-by-Step (7 Steps):
1. Harvest the Nettles
Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself from the stinging hairs. Collect fresh nettles in spring or early summer before they flower, focusing on the leaves and stems.
When harvesting, choose young nettles because they decompose faster and contain less plant fibre compared to older ones. Be sure to leave some plants behind (I use the principle of three is one for me! This way we leave more resources to nature) and avoid pulling up the roots so they can keep growing.
Sometimes I add other spring herbs like dandelion, cleavers, speedwells, chickweed, greater celandine, and dead nettles.
2. Chop the Nettles
Use scissors or a knife to chop the nettles into smaller pieces. This helps them break down more quickly during fermentation.
3. Stick the Nettles
Take your stick and start mashing and crushing the nettles! The more you break them down, the more surface area is exposed, helping to release their nutrients.
4. Soak the Nettles
Place the nettles in a large bucket and fill the bucket with clear rainwater. Use a 1:10 ratio of nettles to water (e.g., 1 kg of nettles to 10 litres of water). Stir daily if you remember (remove the brick first).
5. Ferment the Mixture
Cover the bucket with a lid or cloth to keep out insects. Let the mixture sit for 3-5 weeks.
The fermentation process releases the nutrients from the nettles into the water. You’ll know the mixture is ready when you stop seeing bubbles after stirring it.
6. Strain the Liquid
After fermentation, strain the liquid into another container. The remaining plant material can be composted.
7. Dilute and Use
Before applying the fertilizer to your plants, dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:10 (1 part nettle fertilizer to 10 parts water). Use it to water your plants or as a foliar spray (with a spray bottle) mix 1 part nettle tea with 20 parts water (a 1:20 ratio). Keep in a cool and dark place.
This helps the tea stick to the leaves and acts as a powerful insect repellent.
Use your brewed nettle tea fertilizer within approximately 6 months for the best results.
Tips for Using Stinging Nettle Fertilizer
- Apply nettle fertilizer every 1 month during the growing season when plants need a nutrient boost.
- While nettle fertilizer is helpful, overuse can lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers or fruit. Use it sparingly, especially on flowering plants.
- Consider alternating nettle fertilizer with other organic fertilizers like compost tea or seaweed extract for a well-rounded nutrient profile.
- Nettle fertilizer tea smells terrible and can continue staining for a few days after watering. Water only when it’s cloudy and the ground is slightly damp. This allows the nutrients to infiltrate the soil effectively. A watering can is the easiest tool to use. I wouldn’t recommend watering nettle houseplants indoors just because of the smell.
- You can frequently fertilize plants that need a lot of nutrients, all fruit trees, roses, bushes, hedges, and green plants, like cabbage, and broccoli (before flowering), with nettle tea. However, avoid overfertilizing ornamental plants with nitrogen, which favors growth and not flowering.
- This fertilizer is especially effective for heavy feeders as a foliar spray. Heavy feeders include sunflowers, corn, tomatoes eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, gourds, winter squash, and melons apply it before their fruit develops. However avoid using it on beans, peas, onions, potatoes, and root vegetables.
The Science Behind Stinging Nettle Fertilizer
You might be wondering why stinging nettle fertilizer works so well. The answer lies in its nutrient composition.
Nettles are rich in nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth and chlorophyll production. They also contain significant amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all of which play vital roles in plant health.
The fermentation process breaks down the plant material, making these nutrients more readily available for plants to absorb. This is why nettle fertilizer is so effective—it delivers a concentrated dose of nutrients in a form that plants can easily use.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While stinging nettle fertilizer is relatively easy to make, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for:
- Using Too Much: Over-fertilizing can harm your plants. Always dilute the fertilizer and use it in moderation.
- Skipping the Fermentation Process: Some gardeners try to speed up the process by skipping fermentation, but this reduces the effectiveness of the fertilizer. Patience is key!
- Ignoring Safety Protection: Always wear gloves and protective clothing when handling fresh nettles. The stinging hairs can cause skin irritation.
- Don’t Use It on Babies: It can be too strong for young seedlings.
- Less is More: Overdo it and you’ll get all leaves, no fruit.
- Store It Right: Keep it in a closed container away from sunlight. Otherwise, it’ll turn into a science experiment.
- Spray Directly: It’s best to avoid spraying nettle tea directly on leafy greens like kale or lettuce, or onto fruits and vegetables you plan to harvest soon.
Stinging Nettle Fertilizer vs. Commercial Fertilizers
One of the biggest advantages of stinging nettle fertilizer is its sustainability. Commercial fertilizers are like a sugar rush—quick fix, long-term impact.
Commercial fertilizers often rely on synthetic chemicals that can harm the environment and consume soil health over time. In contrast, nettle fertilizer is natural and helps build healthy soil ecosystems.
Moreover, nettle fertilizer is cost-effective and easy to make at home. It builds soil health, attracts worms, and won’t give chemicals into your groundwater.
While commercial fertilizers can be expensive and require careful application, nettle fertilizer is a simple, affordable alternative that delivers impressive results.
Bonus: Read my full article about “How to Start Gardening for Beginners” to learn more about gardening if you are just starting.
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