24/05/2026
Nettle feed is a potent, free, and completely organic liquid fertilizer. Rich in nitrogen, iron, and silica, it is ideal for promoting healthy leafy growth in vegetables (like lettuce and chard), tomatoes, and young transplants.
How to Make Nettle Feed
Making your own nettle “tea” is incredibly cost-effective, though it requires a bit of patience and tolerance for a strong odor.
1. Harvest: Gather young stinging nettles using gardening gloves, filling roughly half a bucket.
2. Chop: Roughly chop or crush the nettles to help release their sap and nutrients.
3. Soak: Fill the bucket with water—rainwater is best, but tap water works—leaving a few inches at the top. Weigh down the nettles with a heavy object like a brick to keep them submerged.
4. Brew: Cover the bucket (to contain the smell) and leave it to ferment for 3 to 4 weeks. It is ready when the mixture stops bubbling and gives off a very pungent, earthy smell.
How to Apply Nettle Feed
Because the fermented tea is highly concentrated, applying it at full strength will burn or scorch your plants.
* Dilution: Mix 1 part nettle feed to 10 parts water. When diluted, the mixture should look like a pale, weak tea.
* Application: Water the diluted feed directly into the soil around your plants once a week during the growing season.
* Foliar Spray: Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle or a watering can with a fine rose attachment to spray the diluted feed directly onto the leaves.
Note: The concentrated brew has a very strong aroma. Store the brewing bucket well away from your house, and consider wearing gloves and old clothes when handling it.
