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vincent71 Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 10 Apr 2017 Posts: 32 Location: kilkenny
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:32 pm Post subject: organic feed / nettles |
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Hi. Has anyone used nettles as an organic feed for their veg. What were the results like? What ratio did you use roughly? _________________ vincent71 |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:07 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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vincent71 Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 10 Apr 2017 Posts: 32 Location: kilkenny
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 12:56 pm Post subject: nettle feed update |
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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.  _________________ vincent71 |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 5:56 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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vincent71 Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 10 Apr 2017 Posts: 32 Location: kilkenny
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 8:50 am Post subject: Nettle feed |
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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. _________________ vincent71 |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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I would have thought of that, eventually!!! _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Keeks Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree

Joined: 14 Apr 2012 Posts: 168
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Use old tights.....if you have some lying about |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Do you think I am a cross dresser? !!! _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Keeks Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree

Joined: 14 Apr 2012 Posts: 168
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Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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Who am I to judge 😀 |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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I'll post some photos up shall I? _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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