[vincent71]

Hi. Has anyone used nettles as an organic feed for their veg. What were the results like? What ratio did you use roughly?

[tagwex]

Have a look through this. You might find something of use.
http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about1344-15.html

[Blowin]

The post quoted by Tagwex does the job, as he says, but I'd add one point to that. Left to 'stew' in liquid, I've found the tough stalks don't degrade and there's an optimum period for gathering your nettles. Whilst it's not a huge problem, there's only a fairly narrow window between the young nettles appearing, and their flowers showing. If you use the ones with flowers on them, you'll find tiny little seedlings come up everywhere a few months later. They've no significant root structure and are easily removed, but need to be dealt with.

[vincent71]

I've used 2 feeds of nettle leaves on the leafy vegetables. First mix was 7 days old. slightly green in color, no smell. The second mix was 18 days old, stronger smell, greener in color. Hands were stinking after being immersed in it.
There was a visible growth spurt on the following. Mizuna, Mibuna, Little gem, Baby bok choi.

[tagwex]

On a similar topic. I have of late been contemplating putting something into my IBG tank so as my harvested rainwater is pre fertilised and I don't have to do a mix each time I want to use it. My concerns are cleaning out the tank of the nettle stalks that don't break down (OK I know to only put in the leaves) but you get the idea. What can I put in so as I don't have a cleaning problem? I am contemplating just throwing in a full tub of Miracle Gro or something similar.

[Blowin]

A couple of years ago I filled the back of my large jeep with nettles, crammed them into a 200 litre drum and topped up with water. I left it for around 6 months and, as Vincent says, the smell is something else, especially on the hands. I used it as a nutrition sump for my runner beans and had a good crop - but it's something I usually do pretty well with anyway.

Some of our more scientific colleagues may be able to explain the smell but, as an experiment this last year, I filled two of the same barrels with household waste, one of which I added some water to but didn't fill it. The liquid had much the same smell as that from my nettles previously when I emptied it in March.

[vincent71]

Tagwex. Use a mesh like a netting and wrap up the nettles. I used old netting off the fruit bushes. Make sure you crush and tear the leaves so it will break down in the water easier. Add weight to keep submerged.

[tagwex]

I would have thought of that, eventually!!!

[Keeks]

Use old tights.....if you have some lying about

[tagwex]

Do you think I am a cross dresser? !!!

[Keeks]

Who am I to judge 😀

[tagwex]

I'll post some photos up shall I?