Nettle Tea

[DocLeaf]

determining strength of the teas is an acquired skill, one that doesn't take long to acquire.

i agree (the EC pen was a gift from Kerbdog , otherwise i wouldn't have ever have used one) We never bother testing EC with Burdock Tea

It weak in NPK,, but yet in trace minerals and minor nutrients ,, its all good stuff

That's the whole thing with EC counts,, they only measure the really solid salt push on the base nutrients (NPK) involved,, not the vital component minerals that make plants grow healthy and strong. And with organics it's all about culturing the lower minerals to make stuff healthy IMO... resiliant to pests,, esp. outdoors.

NB we still add a spoon a guano to the Burdock Tea,, its a force of habit.. lol

Peace n flowers
dL

p.s

For me the best organic teas we made usually contained the following :

Bucket of water
Air stone
Worm casts
Wood ash
Bat guano *
Sea bird guano *
Nettles
Honey or cane sugar
Urine *
Alga C (organic seaweed extract from canna)

These ingredients blend well together after 2-3 weeks fermentation.

* = amount depends on stage of growth (flowering or veg)... giving different EC readings

 

[GDK]

Im about to go harvest all the nettles i could wish for...my plan is to dry them and crumble it into a nettle meal type thing.....im really lookin to lose the bloodmeal in my soilmix, and i was hoping that i could use the nettle meal as a better substitute...correct?
Also im looking forward to making nettle tea/fpe as soon as i go chop down all these nettles..

Stay Safe

 

[RoyalDane]

This is a super thread.. Thanks for sharing info...
I think i got about 2x20 meters of nettles right on the other side of my fence. next season is gonna be organic.

 

[Amber Trich]

my plan is to dry them and crumble it into a nettle meal type thing.....im really lookin to lose the bloodmeal in my soilmix, and i was hoping that i could use the nettle meal as a better substitute...correct?
Stay Safe

did you have success replacing the bloodmeal with nettle meal?
seems like the blood is much more potent... do you use a lot of nettle instead? would the nettle burn for as long as blood?

i use a lot of nettle fpe... it works great but doesnt last long.

 

[shmalphy]

I just realized my whole yard is filled with nettles. What is the best method of harvesting? Should I remove the top stocks and leave the roots or take the roots too?

 

[heady blunts]

I just realized my whole yard is filled with nettles. What is the best method of harvesting? Should I remove the top stocks and leave the roots or take the roots too?

chop em and leave the roots in the ground. they react a lot like cannabis when "topped" so if you harvest carefully you'll increase your supply for the future!

 

[MJBadger]

I just realized my whole yard is filled with nettles. What is the best method of harvesting

All the nutrients you want are in the leaves , the younger the better . Some people just use the tops (these are also the best for eating as spinach) . I tend to harvest when they are around 12in & with a decent pair of gardening gloves just grip the bottom of the stalk & pull up with the other hand . Or shear off & then strip .

 

[jaykush]

hey dont knock nettle root, nettle root FPE makes for some good shit if you have problems with bad fungi, yet it promotes beneficial fungi.\

shmalphy like heady said, top it like cannabis so you can come back for another round. also consider looking up some recipes and eating it. great stuff!

 

[ixnay007]

Here in italy, they make ravioli with nettle and ricotta filling, covered with butter which was melted with garlic and sage, an topped with parmesan.

Man, I'm getting hungry already.

 

[mad librettist]

I had nettles today, and nettles yesterday, in pesto and in soup. better to leave out the sage to let the nettle be nettle

I think I will go for another walk to make sure I have nettles tomorrow.

i got the stems brewing

 

[ixnay007]

TBH, the nettle is a pretty mild flavor when it's cooked, you could have em with nettle pesto if you want the full nettle experience (now in 3D!)

 

[jaykush]

i also say loose the sage on the nettle ravioli. which ive made at least 10 times in the last month being it nettle season.

 

[ixnay007]

Nah, it's the exact same way I'd do it with spinach ravioli

 

[MJBadger]

We have a bed of watercress every year & nettle added to watercress soup is delicious . NB nettle has the highest soluble digestable iron than any other plant , more so than spinach . Once converted you won`t go back & i love the fact its free.

Off track but we grow our watercress in very damp soil in a poly lined bed with just a few holes punched in & it grows like crazy . I`m seriously thinking on trying some as a fert .

 

[Siomha]

i dont know if anybody mentioned it here before after you brew the nettle tea or soak the nettles you can add from time to time some powered limestone. it takes the nasty smell off.

 

[c-ray]

or even better add some powdered lithothamnium algae

 

[Dkgrower]

This is why i always check the organic forum.

i dont know if anybody mentioned it here before after you brew the nettle tea or soak the nettles you can add from time to time some powered limestone. it takes the nasty smell off.

When i saw the tread i was thinking about if some1 knew how to make the smell go down.

Btw if u are from France, do they still make and sell nutrients made from nettels or is a thing from the past.

Anyway would love to hear about French nettel brews, they have a history off using it.

or even better add some powdered lithothamnium algae

So do u think it is the calcium in the Mearl Algae that is the main factor to less smell ?

 

[Scrappy4]

i dont know if anybody mentioned it here before after you brew the nettle tea or soak the nettles you can add from time to time some powered limestone. it takes the nasty smell off.

The smell goes away in only hours after using it on plant dirt. The limestone does not go away so fast and will affect the soil's PH. Powdered limestone is lime. Not something i will be doing anytime soon.

You also have to take in consideration the
PH of a finished fermented nettles tea. Adding lime willl change that. If smell is a problem use dried ntetles in a quick tea bubbled a day or three. No smell at all.......scrappy

 

[Siomha]

This is why i always check the organic forum.



When i saw the tread i was thinking about if some1 knew how to make the smell go down.

Btw if u are from France, do they still make and sell nutrients made from nettels or is a thing from the past.

Anyway would love to hear about French nettel brews, they have a history off using it.



So do u think it is the calcium in the Mearl Algae that is the main factor to less smell ?

Hey how are you? yes they do still sell nettels but i think mostly older people use it and know about it.
But all the old gardener know about the nettle brews.
personally i dont know any nettle brew i just use nettle pellets.
Always just make as much as i need and the rest i throw out since i live in an appartment.
the nettle pellets iam able to order online, ebay got it as well.

 

[c-ray]

So do u think it is the calcium in the Mearl Algae that is the main factor to less smell ?

yes
you guys are lucky, it's hard to find the mearl on this side of the pond
quick lime is also good for capturing the aromas