Hope you enjoyed this in-depth guide on using nettles to grow healthier and more resilient crops. This is the type of things I love about gardening, the ability to make the most of what nature provides us and to bring in all kinds of different techqniues and also space for experimentation too. A huge thank you to Nigel for joining once again. Since the video I did featuring his book I have had a huge number of you telling me how useful it has been. If you would like to find out more about Nigel's workshop, here is the link: www.nigel-palmer.com/workshop 😀🌱
Thank you so much for teaching in a way that, even though we have little experience in the garden, we can apply the things you show us!! Hoping everyone has a successful and enjoyable gardening season.
I have been using fermented nettles for years. And I also make spring nettles into a tasty pesto. But I most appreciate you, unlike so many UA-camrs, not pretending you invented the method, but bringing in an expert to add to the conversation. Well done. I approve.
@@diannevaldez8670 I was wondering the same thing....I don’t have organic brown sugar on hand so I thought I would use organic sugar and molasses, basically the same thing.
@@craigschaaf2529 Hello Craig, thank you so much for the reply and the information. I was wondering why you would need the sugar but then I thought about kombucha and how the Scoby needs sugar and maybe this would be similar. Thank you for clearing this up for me.
@@diannevaldez8670 I never add sugar, or molasses. The fermentation happens naturally. I am not making wine or beer. I am making a composted fermentation slurry. Much as most farms do with waste animal products, or the plastic wrapped bundles you see in a field (the plastic aids in fermenting the grasses inside). So entirely different processes.
I am Korean who’s been living in Canada for over 20 years. I still make fermented juice/food with veggies and fruits. Cannot live without them. I use them for cookings and teas. Great tastes and super healthy. 1:1 ratio. Your choice of fruit/veggie to equal amount of sugar/honey. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for making them.
Interesting... I've only known about using salt to ferment, with small exception of some exposure to a recipe or 2 for a sugar/fruit ferment last year. So, you do some veggies too, with sugar ? Thanks !
Great to see the Eastern practice of natural farming being put into practice.Thank you Huw. The main modern proponent of it is Cho Han-kyu[ Korean] who was arrested many times for his methods.He posed a threat to the money men in modern agriculture.
@@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006 It happened many years ago and I don't know anything about SK politics these days. Cho Han-Kyu's son [ Youngsang Cho] is a farmer whose methods are JADAM-Low cost agriculture.
Fascinating but disturbing info J.Smith....I'm fed up of being at the mercy of the supermarket for my produce, so thought I would give it a go myself...with mega help from my knowledgeable gardener hubby.....so we will see! 😊
Anyone using non gmo seeds and employing 'unapproved' methods poses a threat to big Agg and big Pharma. Monsanto, prior to merging with Baer, was taking a farmer to court every _seventeen minutes_ on average! So glad we have 'seed markets' and _'Seed Sunday'_ in the UK, where we barter seeds, as selling non approved seeds is illegal here, yet many are unaware and astonished, upon learning such a law was passed, thanks to the politicians private owned by the moneymen.
Very easy to do, great video. But a MASSIVE bonus for me is I put the nettle plug on the compost and it's irresistable to slugs and snails! I go out each morning and get around a dozen each time. Add this to your anti-slug/snail tips!
I live in Sweden, now the stinging nettles are starting to grow. I'm not a gardener, but I really want to get good at it. I have a balcony and very little morning sun. So I have to grow in pots or containers. So today, I went to pick my nettles and made this plant juice. It smelled very pleasant. I can't. Wait to use it on my plants. Thank you for this treasure of information. 👑
I’m all for regenerative methods but I do have to point out one thing. Seeds contain exactly the right amount of nutrition for it to germinate. Exactly. Nutritional needs begin once the seed has germinated, produced a working root and working leaves. It is at that point that providing extra nutrition becomes appropriate. Soaking seeds in water provides a single missing element: water. It may seem like I am splitting hairs but I think this basic fundamental principle is important: Keeping things simple and appropriate is something we all need to practice if we are to consider ourselves responsible.
I understand...its a bit like King Canute defying the tide. Nothing is going to stop those little miracles from emerging if given warmth, moisture, love and food...just as all living things require. 🥳💝🌞
Hi Laura, Nigel at the end of descirbing the seed soak made it quite clear it was experimental. I for one don't soak seeds and can't be bothered to, as long as the ground it's in has moisture it's all good :)
Another theory is to kind of imprint yourself to the seed - by putting in into your mouth and let it soak, putting out one by one to plant it. So the plants are getting information about you, their caretaker.
@@HuwRichards An advantage of soaking seed is that you find out which is viable. This year I had two packets of parsnip, both still in date. One gave 95% germination and the other zero.
This is only really my first/second year of trying to grow lots of different veg and its great to hear about these things early on! I've been doing lots of permaculture research etc. but this makes the whole picture way more varied and fascinating:) love your channel thank you!! xx
Thank you for all the interesting and useful videos you make. If you like the nettle ferment, you should have a look at bokashi. It is a japanese method originally for fermenting food scaps. After the ferment, you mix it with soil for quick composting. You can go from food scrap to nutritious soil in four weeks!
Having used Nettles and Comfrey for many years...I have never added water until after fermentation/ watering time. I do like the idea of adding sugar though, knowing its hygroscopic qualities very well, I never thought to add it to the dry mix of fresh leaves. Genius🥳 Thanks Hugh. x
Nettles have so many uses! I gathered a tall one from my patch for Twine (bast fiber in the stem) harvested the planes from the tips to eat, from the middle section to dry for tea, and used the biggest leaves for a batch of FPJ!
Nettle grows wild in my yard. Thank you for the information! Native Americans uses Stinging Nettle tea to help those that are recovering from COVID 19.
Huw do you have a list of other plants you can use that are full spectrum like nettle is ? Thanks. Love your style, thoroughness and over all presentation in your videos. Good job.
Very helpful video! I have been using stinging nettle tea in our plants, but not fermenting it. It is already very effective. I will also try to ferment it next time. Thanks a lot. It is a big help for us, gardeners!
We have nettles growing everywhere. I even boil it to feed my dog, knowing it’s unbelievable nutrient contents. Now I find a amazing use from you & Nigel. Thks. Can’t wait to try!
This is just happily amazing to me , just moved to a property with loads of nettles. Made tea for me , gave me loads of energy , now going to make this for all the plants, Thank You Both ; -)
This is really interesting, have to try it! I usually use inexpensive ikea french press coffee pots for fermenting chillies for sauces because the sieve press thing keeps the chillies under the salt water so they don't go moldy, I imagine this would work in those pots too, have to buy one for the purpose!
Thank you for this video, Huw! Not only for this idea in particular, but for the philosophy behind it as well! Here in Portugal we have a long, long tradition of using nettles in the garden, watering the garden with nettle juice. You can know on anyone's door and they'll always tell you they use it and the great results they get.
how do you prepare the nettle juice? as described in this video or some other method? i'm wondering if i can squeeze the leaves to extract the liquid and then just dilute it with water?
I made some FPJ using nettles last year, and am excited to make more. Some nettles are already coming up - need to gather some for the cook pot! Thank you for all your wonderful garden tips and guests!
Incredible information! I will try to sign for workshop with or without my husband. The thing is I am hard of hearing, so I do appreciate it when there are subtitles. But I will relisten to this video with my husband. ‘Fingers crossed’ he might come...
Google has an app called Live Transcribe, which I put on my phone. I find it to be reasonably good at captioning and have used it for videos and in zoom meetings when people are mumbling away from their mics.
That’s so amazing... as a total garden-newcomer this year, I‘m learning so many great things from you and other youtubers. Tomorrow morning I gonna harvet those nettles and start fermentating! Thank you!
I grow nettles and harvest them for fertiliser, for tea, for the seeds, for tincture and for ointments. I have to process enough to keep the whole family and many friends going all winter so aside from foraging them anywhere I find them, I have specific areas dedicated to nettles in the garden and in our field, where I planted them. I like to keep a patch near the veg garden to attract pests away from my vegetable plants. Those are the old ways and it is lovely to see you introducing the concepts back into the gardening consciousness because perhaps I won't be regarded quite as much as 'the mad old woman' in future!
I was already settled on growing nettle in my garden for drying for teas, but now I'm equally excited to try fermenting it! Nettle is also really great in a tea blend to help with allergies, for those who suffer from them, so please check it out. It's a very good plant for your body too! :)
I drink nettle tea from Clipper tea bags which are unbleached and plastic free so I put the tea bags along with uncooked food waste into my compost bin area so the nettles and the unbleached paper tea bags will provide nutrients for the soil.
@@paigeturner5775 Buy them as seeds or collect the seeds. Alternatively, you can take cuttings, but will have to decide if you want the annual variety, which can only propagate from seeds, or the more invasive perennial variety, which propagates via creepers that take root, but which can be prevented from spreading, using a ha-ha fence.
Yes, except sadly the various nettle teas, tinctures or fresh haven't helped any allergy or histamine issues of mine, but mine are more gut-health, auto-immune and food related plus I may have a histamine disorder. So, by all means folks, try it ! If it doesn't "work" for you also please don't rule out all herbal remedies, it just depends on what's all going on with your body, health and underlying causes. Plus, sometimes yes, it just takes time, too. For example, feverfew also is helpful to some with allergies or migraines* ( as long as you're not allergic to it's plant family !), but you have to take it for a month 1st, some sources specify. It's also easy to grow, so, easy to try for yourself ! *Keeping in mind that migraines/most headaches are usually related most to diet and liver health, in my experience and observation.
Excellent idea and video, I have just prepared my first jar of nettles and can't wait to see if I have done it right. The nettles didn't really mix very well with the sugar and I do hope it all works out. Thank you for all the information, it is really helpful.
I've been doing this put on sweet corn last year never had so much beautiful corn, this differently works also used dandelions . Well continue doing this .
Very interesting Thank you. I think I might use Comfrey with this method for seedlings. Comfrey has amazing cell proliferation qualities for humans and plants alike. For starting plants off or supporting struggling plants this seems a good way to go. I love Nettle and it's amazing Nutrients too, but I have Comfrey abundantly available. Love using what's available instead of relying on store bought stuff.
Lol I'm just a beginner in gardening and don't really know if and/or how this works for plants but I definitely fermented nettles before. Put the nettles and sugar in water and let the natural yeast ferment the stuff. Then get the nettles out and let the dead yeast sink to the bottom and you've gotten a very tasty wine. 🍷
Thank you so much, I enjoyed this so much. I am a mature person about to move where there’s a big well established garden. So having done, no dig and natural gardening it’s so good to admit, your never too old to learn and the fermented plant liquid will be so much better to make than the bucket/water and plant material, that stinky stuff.!! WCL
Super stuff thank you. Picked up my nettles this morning , though not so early, need to get up earlier next. Going to make it up after lunch. Thanks again for such an informative and to the point video.
Fantastic!!! I can put weeds to good use, great use for them. Extract the goodness then add the material to the compost heap without fear of spreading weed seeds. 🤩 Brilliant!! Thank you so much for this video, implementation will be very soon. 🙋🤸
I LOVE nettles in every way.. 😁 and korean natural farming methods have always given good results whenever i ve tried any of those 🤗 wonderful info, thank you 😄
Best gardening show . Congratulations Hue. Grew on allotments with my grandad and my dad but me and my dad watch your videos . Bought your books and Charles Dowding and now going to order Nigel Palmer's book . Thank you. Well done and God Bless you.
An excellent tutorial! We don't have nettle growing wild around us, but I have done this with the Comfrey I grow and have had excellent results. I have also made Comfrey Tea that I use to drench the soil, but like you say, the smell is repulsive to say the least. This tutorial should get more gardeners using this easy to make stimulant.
I ordered the book. thank you. I do make ferments already usually for mead and such. I have made ferments for plants before and will be nice to see how he does it.
Thank you both so much, Nigel’s book is Fantastic, highly recommend ! So much exploration and note taking and sharing is ahead for all us gardeners who choose to go forward working 🌱with Nature 🐝 As sourcing outside materials may become more of an issue -supply/delivery/etc- accessible ingredients right in our yards = true nourishment and life. 🙏🏼
This was genuinely fascinating. I’m new to the world of amendments, and if I’m honest, homemade fertilisers also like comfrey, etc… but starting to research it. Thankfully we have a bountiful stock of nettles here in the garden! 😂 I’m going to try this for sure, and will be interested to see if I have success with it. Thanks Huw - awesome video!
Wow 😮I am impressed with the content of this video, it doesn’t really surprise me and great to get the recipe and methods. Thank you very much for sharing ❤
It would be useful to do a trial where you treated a few parallel beds with respectively no nettles, nettle-mulch, nettle-tea and fermented nettles over two seasons. (Of course, if the base soil is super-compost with max nutrition they'll probably all do well) The difference over time between nettle-mulch (with all the nutrients provided over a longer time) vs the water-soluble nutrients in tea (possibly absorbed faster) might be provide answers to many. The advantage of fermented nettles over nettle-tea that has been stewing for 4-6 weeks seems to be that it is faster, or has someone done an actual check of the chemical compounds to see if the content differs (apart from sugar)? Is there any scientific reasoning or actual testing behind the 1:500 blend recommendation? Are there are other plants that are suited for fermenting or stewing as tea? Dandelions and symphytum are mentioned by various commenters.
I've certainly found that providing liquid from underneath is the way to go with young seedlings: I never water young tomatoes, squash, cucumber, courgette from above, always place the plants in a tray with a water reservoir below and they always do very, very well. I found the same this year with lettuce, celery and celeriac. I think I'll try and experiment comparing compost with water underneath vs compost with a diluted ferment/tea underneath, as I've not to date felt that my plants were suffering unduly. I have found that adding a small amount of healthy fungi/bacteria and crushed basaltic rock dust does make a difference. Maybe plant ferment mimics those things??
Thank you for getting Nigel on your channel Huw- didn't know about his courses, llttle bit late for this one. So busy on the allotment I am not getting around to watching the vids :( I bought Nigel's book when it came out - absolutely fascinating stuff. I started doing some of the carrot and parsnip teas using forest leaf mould last autumn.
only just come across this one while looking at ways to use nettles etc. Very interesting and looking forward to trying this next year, as I think material is getting a bit woody
Just in time! I was going to pick the nettles soak them in the bucket - and also timely as I've been waiting a week for Nigel's book to arrive - Thank you @Huw
Interesting topic. I Personally use seaweed but nettles or comfrey would surely work well too. Either way, good to experiment and share results, cheers huw 👍
I had the same thought. I would like to start consuming nettles but their taste is a bit too strange for me. Might try this one to nourish myself and the plants.
I have a few questions about using FPJ and am having trouble finding information on the web, I wondered if anyone here had experience? 1) When using dandelions to make the FPJ, do you use just the leaves or the flowers as well? 2) For heavy feeders like courgettes and pumpkins, is it best to combine foliar spraying with watering? This is my first year with an allotment and I am learning a lot!
I work in a pub and I've managed to score one 5 litre bucket and two 2.5 litre buckets, all three with lids. My intention WAS to use the two 2.5 litre buckets to make nettle feed by placing one bucket inside the other with the inside bucket holes drilled in the bottom for easy access to strain out the water but I think I'll be using the 2.5 litre buckets now for creating this super plant juice instead with brown sugar. My only question is, what type of brown sugar as you don't say exactly and there are many different types on the market!
Isn't this a traditional French technique? Fermented nettle tea was featured on an American gardening show decades ago at a magnificent kitchen garden in France.
Rudolph Steiner biodynamic preparation 504.. these things sound crazy but they really work. We use Chamomile, Oak Bark Summer Horn Clay and others to kick start the life that for various reasons doesn't turn up in time. Awesome as ever
Nettles we're brought to England in roman times for the purpose of keeping the soldiers warm they use to whip or flag each other to increase circulation before battle! Nettles are a gem of a plant for wildlife and if composed correctly they make black compost the best in my opinion thanks for the video good content I'm growing brandywine bigboy,sunglow,crimson blush, big league it will be my first time growing these variety thanks for the info you sound like you know your onions bro 👍
This is a really interesting method for amend the soil! Thank you, Huw. I definitely want to try. Nettles are very abundant as a weed in my garden. I’d like to know if I can use molasses instead of brown sugar, and how it would affect the recipe for preparing the fermented plant juice?
I like the idea of molasses also. Isn't brown sugar made with molasses? Why would brown sugar be better? Sorry, interested in the science behind what I am doing.
I did exactly this for a batch of 125 gms and all I got was a hard, thin lump of nettles and no juice. Kept a breathable cover as you instructed. I had to add a little water to get the juice to flow out so now not sure what the dilute ratio should be.
For labeling jars, you may want to try painter's tape. It should be removable for a long time ( weeks, months ?) afterwards. Another option, of course, is to re-use actual card-board or cardstock paper (even cutting up used greeting cards) to make tags with at least one side available to write on. Punch a small hole and use string or a twist-tie to attach to the jar OR even use the main rubber band. By having one with just a little extra length or stretch beyond the size of the jar top, then 1st looping the band through the hole and back through itself, and then using per-normal to secure the fabric cover of course.
We just moved to a new property and had to order in soil. I don’t think there’s much nutrients in there so I’m going to make this until our compost is ready. Thanks Huw!!!
I just made tea from nettles for mo but I left it for an hour for the plants to seep. I also started mulching with nettles and found out bunnies eat it dry as well. I got loads of nettles in my yard this year.
Hello Huw, thanks for this video. However, I am wondering if the sugar will attract ants and create a problem for the garden? Years ago my husband decided to feed his plants with sugar and it created a huge problem with ant colonies in our yard. I think I'll pass this sugar idea. I think (nettle + water = liquid fertilizer) will be good enough, and I'll just make a batch to use all within two weeks rather than letting it stink and neighbors unhappy... Thanks for all the videos and helpful ideas you've given us. Cheers.
Hope you enjoyed this in-depth guide on using nettles to grow healthier and more resilient crops. This is the type of things I love about gardening, the ability to make the most of what nature provides us and to bring in all kinds of different techqniues and also space for experimentation too. A huge thank you to Nigel for joining once again. Since the video I did featuring his book I have had a huge number of you telling me how useful it has been. If you would like to find out more about Nigel's workshop, here is the link: www.nigel-palmer.com/workshop 😀🌱
This looks possible! Thanks!
Thank you so much for teaching in a way that, even though we have little experience in the garden, we can apply the things you show us!! Hoping everyone has a successful and enjoyable gardening season.
I am seriously looking at taking this workshop. This is the kind of information I need to share and teach others. Thank you!
Can I just use normal white sugar? Thats all I have for the moment!
@@alb5346 the Process is the same. Sure yo u can
I have been using fermented nettles for years. And I also make spring nettles into a tasty pesto.
But I most appreciate you, unlike so many UA-camrs, not pretending you invented the method, but bringing in an expert to add to the conversation. Well done. I approve.
I was wondering if you can use molasses alone without the sugar in this recipe?
@@diannevaldez8670 I was wondering the same thing....I don’t have organic brown sugar on hand so I thought I would use organic sugar and molasses, basically the same thing.
I’m afraid it’s not the same thing. You have to have a dry sugar for the osmotic pressure to work. I use organic cane sugar.
@@craigschaaf2529 Hello Craig, thank you so much for the reply and the information. I was wondering why you would need the sugar but then I thought about kombucha and how the Scoby needs sugar and maybe this would be similar. Thank you for clearing this up for me.
@@diannevaldez8670 I never add sugar, or molasses. The fermentation happens naturally. I am not making wine or beer. I am making a composted fermentation slurry. Much as most farms do with waste animal products, or the plastic wrapped bundles you see in a field (the plastic aids in fermenting the grasses inside). So entirely different processes.
I am Korean who’s been living in Canada for over 20 years. I still make fermented juice/food with veggies and fruits. Cannot live without them. I use them for cookings and teas. Great tastes and super healthy. 1:1 ratio. Your choice of fruit/veggie to equal amount of sugar/honey.
I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for making them.
Interesting... I've only known about using salt to ferment, with small exception of some exposure to a recipe or 2 for a sugar/fruit ferment last year. So, you do some veggies too, with sugar ? Thanks !
Great to see the Eastern practice of natural farming being put into practice.Thank you Huw. The main modern proponent of it is Cho Han-kyu[ Korean] who was arrested many times for his methods.He posed a threat to the money men in modern agriculture.
....arrested for being an innovator?! 😰 I knew there was corruption in SK but I didn't think that it would be THAT bad!
@@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006 It happened many years ago and I don't know anything about SK politics these days. Cho Han-Kyu's son [ Youngsang Cho] is a farmer whose methods are JADAM-Low cost agriculture.
Fascinating but disturbing info J.Smith....I'm fed up of being at the mercy of the supermarket for my produce, so thought I would give it a go myself...with mega help from my knowledgeable gardener hubby.....so we will see! 😊
@@witcherwoo8938 Check out his son's book...JADAM ORGANIC FARMING by Youngsang Cho.
Anyone using non gmo seeds and employing 'unapproved' methods poses a threat to big Agg and big Pharma.
Monsanto, prior to merging with Baer, was taking a farmer to court every _seventeen minutes_ on average!
So glad we have 'seed markets' and _'Seed Sunday'_ in the UK, where we barter seeds, as selling non approved seeds is illegal here, yet many are unaware and astonished, upon learning such a law was passed, thanks to the politicians private owned by the moneymen.
Very easy to do, great video. But a MASSIVE bonus for me is I put the nettle plug on the compost and it's irresistable to slugs and snails! I go out each morning and get around a dozen each time. Add this to your anti-slug/snail tips!
i love it when you give me a very warm welcome back in the garden :D makes me feel very cozy
Will you be running side by side trials to test this method? Would be great to see
I hope someone does, as do at least fifty-four others, who, like me, have given your question a thumbs up.
I live in Sweden, now the stinging nettles are starting to grow. I'm not a gardener, but I really want to get good at it.
I have a balcony and very little morning sun. So I have to grow in pots or containers.
So today, I went to pick my nettles and made this plant juice. It smelled very pleasant. I can't. Wait to use it on my plants. Thank you for this treasure of information. 👑
I’m all for regenerative methods but I do have to point out one thing. Seeds contain exactly the right amount of nutrition for it to germinate. Exactly.
Nutritional needs begin once the seed has germinated, produced a working root and working leaves. It is at that point that providing extra nutrition becomes appropriate. Soaking seeds in water provides a single missing element: water.
It may seem like I am splitting hairs but I think this basic fundamental principle is important: Keeping things simple and appropriate is something we all need to practice if we are to consider ourselves responsible.
I understand...its a bit like King Canute defying the tide. Nothing is going to stop those little miracles from emerging if given warmth, moisture, love and food...just as all living things require. 🥳💝🌞
Hi Laura, Nigel at the end of descirbing the seed soak made it quite clear it was experimental. I for one don't soak seeds and can't be bothered to, as long as the ground it's in has moisture it's all good :)
Another theory is to kind of imprint yourself to the seed - by putting in into your mouth and let it soak, putting out one by one to plant it. So the plants are getting information about you, their caretaker.
Kendra Im not so sure if the books of Anastasia are really based on facts 🤷♀️
@@HuwRichards An advantage of soaking seed is that you find out which is viable. This year I had two packets of parsnip, both still in date. One gave 95% germination and the other zero.
This is only really my first/second year of trying to grow lots of different veg and its great to hear about these things early on! I've been doing lots of permaculture research etc. but this makes the whole picture way more varied and fascinating:) love your channel thank you!! xx
Thank you for all the interesting and useful videos you make. If you like the nettle ferment, you should have a look at bokashi. It is a japanese method originally for fermenting food scaps. After the ferment, you mix it with soil for quick composting. You can go from food scrap to nutritious soil in four weeks!
What an interesting and uplifting video. Thanks Huw.
Goodbye smelly tubs with stinging nettles , hello sweet and sugary smelling extracts.
Having used Nettles and Comfrey for many years...I have never added water until after fermentation/ watering time. I do like the idea of adding sugar though, knowing its hygroscopic qualities very well, I never thought to add it to the dry mix of fresh leaves. Genius🥳 Thanks Hugh. x
Nettles have so many uses!
I gathered a tall one from my patch for Twine (bast fiber in the stem) harvested the planes from the tips to eat, from the middle section to dry for tea, and used the biggest leaves for a batch of FPJ!
i haver big barrels around my yard that i add horse manure and will add weeds too, its my plant tea.... so im glad its got lots of fans around!
Thank you! I made it this morning. It smells good. It’s so much better than nettles in water.
Boy am I blessed to have met (informally) you Mr. Huw Richards. Thank you for sharing n God bless you oways 🙏❤😇
Nettle grows wild in my yard. Thank you for the information! Native Americans uses Stinging Nettle tea to help those that are recovering from COVID 19.
Fabulous🥳💝...why am I not surprised 🤣. Mother Nature...she is a good'in. 💝
Huw do you have a list of other plants you can use that are full spectrum like nettle is ? Thanks. Love your style, thoroughness and over all presentation in your videos. Good job.
Comfrey & Dandelions are also very close to full spectrum & it’s the same measurements of sugar to plant material to make the ferments
Very helpful video! I have been using stinging nettle tea in our plants, but not fermenting it. It is already very effective. I will also try to ferment it next time. Thanks a lot. It is a big help for us, gardeners!
It's my absolute pleasure! Hope you have fun doing it all and best of luck :D
We have nettles growing everywhere. I even boil it to feed my dog, knowing it’s unbelievable nutrient contents. Now I find a amazing use from you & Nigel. Thks. Can’t wait to try!
This is just happily amazing to me , just moved to a property with loads of nettles. Made tea for me , gave me loads of energy , now going to make this for all the plants, Thank You Both ; -)
dry the seeds and eat them over the winter. great stuff and tasks a little bit like nuts. it's aalso healthy
I'm a week into my fermentation! Smells amazing. Excited to start feeding my plants and maybe soaking seeds too!
This is really interesting, have to try it!
I usually use inexpensive ikea french press coffee pots for fermenting chillies for sauces because the sieve press thing keeps the chillies under the salt water so they don't go moldy, I imagine this would work in those pots too, have to buy one for the purpose!
@Lemonie Lala OMG... I do a ton of fermenting and that coffee press idea sounds genius, I'll have to give it a try🌶
Thank you for this video, Huw! Not only for this idea in particular, but for the philosophy behind it as well! Here in Portugal we have a long, long tradition of using nettles in the garden, watering the garden with nettle juice. You can know on anyone's door and they'll always tell you they use it and the great results they get.
how do you prepare the nettle juice? as described in this video or some other method? i'm wondering if i can squeeze the leaves to extract the liquid and then just dilute it with water?
I made some FPJ using nettles last year, and am excited to make more. Some nettles are already coming up - need to gather some for the cook pot!
Thank you for all your wonderful garden tips and guests!
Incredible information! I will try to sign for workshop with or without my husband. The thing is I am hard of hearing, so I do appreciate it when there are subtitles. But I will relisten to this video with my husband. ‘Fingers crossed’ he might come...
Google has an app called Live Transcribe, which I put on my phone. I find it to be reasonably good at captioning and have used it for videos and in zoom meetings when people are mumbling away from their mics.
Are you watching on a phone? When I tap on my phone screen, a little box saying CC pops up. Tap that box, and captions appear.
That’s so amazing... as a total garden-newcomer this year, I‘m learning so many great things from you and other youtubers. Tomorrow morning I gonna harvet those nettles and start fermentating! Thank you!
I grow nettles and harvest them for fertiliser, for tea, for the seeds, for tincture and for ointments. I have to process enough to keep the whole family and many friends going all winter so aside from foraging them anywhere I find them, I have specific areas dedicated to nettles in the garden and in our field, where I planted them. I like to keep a patch near the veg garden to attract pests away from my vegetable plants. Those are the old ways and it is lovely to see you introducing the concepts back into the gardening consciousness because perhaps I won't be regarded quite as much as 'the mad old woman' in future!
I was already settled on growing nettle in my garden for drying for teas, but now I'm equally excited to try fermenting it! Nettle is also really great in a tea blend to help with allergies, for those who suffer from them, so please check it out. It's a very good plant for your body too! :)
I drink nettle tea from Clipper tea bags which are unbleached and plastic free so I put the tea bags along with uncooked food waste into my compost bin area so the nettles and the unbleached paper tea bags will provide nutrients for the soil.
How did you get the nettles?
@@paigeturner5775
Buy them as seeds or collect the seeds.
Alternatively, you can take cuttings, but will have to decide if you want the annual variety, which can only propagate from seeds, or the more invasive perennial variety, which propagates via creepers that take root, but which can be prevented from spreading, using a ha-ha fence.
Yes, except sadly the various nettle teas, tinctures or fresh haven't helped any allergy or histamine issues of mine, but mine are more gut-health, auto-immune and food related plus I may have a histamine disorder. So, by all means folks, try it ! If it doesn't "work" for you also please don't rule out all herbal remedies, it just depends on what's all going on with your body, health and underlying causes. Plus, sometimes yes, it just takes time, too. For example, feverfew also is helpful to some with allergies or migraines* ( as long as you're not allergic to it's plant family !), but you have to take it for a month 1st, some sources specify. It's also easy to grow, so, easy to try for yourself ! *Keeping in mind that migraines/most headaches are usually related most to diet and liver health, in my experience and observation.
Thanks, nice bit of nuance to keep leaves dryer by spraying in morning, to avoid disease.
This is incredible. I use a lot of compost tea and it looks like this is the next step. Going to get my hands on Nigel's book now.
Excellent idea and video, I have just prepared my first jar of nettles and can't wait to see if I have done it right. The nettles didn't really mix very well with the sugar and I do hope it all works out.
Thank you for all the information, it is really helpful.
Thanks, great information! I always pick nettle and dry it for tea and add to soups for more nutrition.
I've been doing this put on sweet corn last year never had so much beautiful corn, this differently works also used dandelions . Well continue doing this .
Just made this. Hopefully I did it right and have some nice food for the plants. Thank you so much for all the inspiring lessons 🙏🙏🙏
Finally I have 2 gardeners that can help me garden my way! Can’t wait to receive my book! Thank you both!
Very interesting Thank you. I think I might use Comfrey with this method for seedlings. Comfrey has amazing cell proliferation qualities for humans and plants alike. For starting plants off or supporting struggling plants this seems a good way to go. I love Nettle and it's amazing Nutrients too, but I have Comfrey abundantly available. Love using what's available instead of relying on store bought stuff.
Lol I'm just a beginner in gardening and don't really know if and/or how this works for plants but I definitely fermented nettles before.
Put the nettles and sugar in water and let the natural yeast ferment the stuff. Then get the nettles out and let the dead yeast sink to the bottom and you've gotten a very tasty wine. 🍷
How often should you foliar feed?
Thank you so much, I enjoyed this so much. I am a mature person about to move where there’s a big well established garden. So having done, no dig and natural gardening it’s so good to admit, your never too old to learn and the fermented plant liquid will be so much better to make than the bucket/water and plant material, that stinky stuff.!! WCL
I love the way you put timings for different sections in the description Huw. Another great video ~ thank you.. Brilliant
Super stuff thank you. Picked up my nettles this morning , though not so early, need to get up earlier next. Going to make it up after lunch. Thanks again for such an informative and to the point video.
What an EXCELLENT video!! Thanks to both of you!🙂🌱
I just used leaves. The sugar didn't extract enough liquid and it started to get moldy.
I covered it with water and now it looks good
Fantastic!!! I can put weeds to good use, great use for them. Extract the goodness then add the material to the compost heap without fear of spreading weed seeds. 🤩 Brilliant!! Thank you so much for this video, implementation will be very soon. 🙋🤸
I LOVE nettles in every way.. 😁 and korean natural farming methods have always given good results whenever i ve tried any of those 🤗 wonderful info, thank you 😄
Thank you, lm swamped with nettles, docks and cleavers. Fun begins
11 Q
Best gardening show . Congratulations Hue. Grew on allotments with my grandad and my dad but me and my dad watch your videos . Bought your books and Charles Dowding and now going to order Nigel Palmer's book . Thank you. Well done and God Bless you.
FANASTIC video i currently have nettles growing in my back yard looking forward to pulling them up and applying this method
An excellent tutorial! We don't have nettle growing wild around us, but I have done this with the Comfrey I grow and have had excellent results. I have also made Comfrey Tea that I use to drench the soil, but like you say, the smell is repulsive to say the least. This tutorial should get more gardeners using this easy to make stimulant.
I ordered the book. thank you. I do make ferments already usually for mead and such. I have made ferments for plants before and will be nice to see how he does it.
Thank you for info..in isang FAA and compost for my vegetable, im so contented 🌿👋
A jar of nettles cosily fermenting in my kitchen now! So excited 💚🌿
Thank you both so much, Nigel’s book is Fantastic, highly recommend ! So much exploration and note taking and sharing is ahead for all us gardeners who choose to go forward working 🌱with Nature 🐝 As sourcing outside materials may become more of an issue -supply/delivery/etc- accessible ingredients right in our yards = true nourishment and life. 🙏🏼
This was genuinely fascinating. I’m new to the world of amendments, and if I’m honest, homemade fertilisers also like comfrey, etc… but starting to research it. Thankfully we have a bountiful stock of nettles here in the garden! 😂 I’m going to try this for sure, and will be interested to see if I have success with it. Thanks Huw - awesome video!
Thank you Hue! I’m starting now growing veggies in my veranda and I’m learning a lot from you! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Wow 😮I am impressed with the content of this video, it doesn’t really surprise me and great to get the recipe and methods. Thank you very much for sharing ❤
I only just found this video. Thank you so much really inspiring, practical etc.
Wow, this is so exciting! I'm very tempted to sign up for Nigel's class! Thanks Hugh for sharing this!
Two people I have learned so much from in the last year!
It would be useful to do a trial where you treated a few parallel beds with respectively no nettles, nettle-mulch, nettle-tea and fermented nettles over two seasons. (Of course, if the base soil is super-compost with max nutrition they'll probably all do well) The difference over time between nettle-mulch (with all the nutrients provided over a longer time) vs the water-soluble nutrients in tea (possibly absorbed faster) might be provide answers to many.
The advantage of fermented nettles over nettle-tea that has been stewing for 4-6 weeks seems to be that it is faster, or has someone done an actual check of the chemical compounds to see if the content differs (apart from sugar)? Is there any scientific reasoning or actual testing behind the 1:500 blend recommendation?
Are there are other plants that are suited for fermenting or stewing as tea? Dandelions and symphytum are mentioned by various commenters.
A year on and no response?
I'm disappointed.
The advantages of fermentation is that it is shelf stable and has higher concentrations of the plants’ minerals.
Getting his book! Thanks Huw! Your channel is fantastic! Keep going!
I've certainly found that providing liquid from underneath is the way to go with young seedlings: I never water young tomatoes, squash, cucumber, courgette from above, always place the plants in a tray with a water reservoir below and they always do very, very well. I found the same this year with lettuce, celery and celeriac. I think I'll try and experiment comparing compost with water underneath vs compost with a diluted ferment/tea underneath, as I've not to date felt that my plants were suffering unduly. I have found that adding a small amount of healthy fungi/bacteria and crushed basaltic rock dust does make a difference. Maybe plant ferment mimics those things??
I'm a great believer in using nettles and comfrey but I've never done a fermentation. Neither have I fed seeds/seedlings. I'm game to give it a go.
Thank you Huw for the follow up to recommending the book. I bought the book but being a visual person these are great videos!
I ha e lots of nettles that love to grow in my garden. Those things hurt, so now I will put them to work with the plant juice
Wow. I just made some fermented juice for the first time. So good… thanks for this 👍🏾👍🏾
Thank you for getting Nigel on your channel Huw- didn't know about his courses, llttle bit late for this one. So busy on the allotment I am not getting around to watching the vids :( I bought Nigel's book when it came out - absolutely fascinating stuff. I started doing some of the carrot and parsnip teas using forest leaf mould last autumn.
only just come across this one while looking at ways to use nettles etc. Very interesting and looking forward to trying this next year, as I think material is getting a bit woody
Genious. I'm a fan of using nettles anyhow. I have to try this as well.
I’m so excited to do this! I’ll let you know how it goes. Love this
Just in time! I was going to pick the nettles soak them in the bucket - and also timely as I've been waiting a week for Nigel's book to arrive - Thank you @Huw
More Nigel 😍 yay for more bubbling buckets.
Interesting topic. I Personally use seaweed but nettles or comfrey would surely work well too. Either way, good to experiment and share results, cheers huw 👍
Same here.
Could be an interesting syrup to add to fermented beverages.
I had the same thought. I would like to start consuming nettles but their taste is a bit too strange for me. Might try this one to nourish myself and the plants.
Very valuable information, thank you
I have a few questions about using FPJ and am having trouble finding information on the web, I wondered if anyone here had experience? 1) When using dandelions to make the FPJ, do you use just the leaves or the flowers as well? 2) For heavy feeders like courgettes and pumpkins, is it best to combine foliar spraying with watering? This is my first year with an allotment and I am learning a lot!
Just draining my first her now.
A big thank you
Gonna use the first batch on my nettles themselves🙂
I work in a pub and I've managed to score one 5 litre bucket and two 2.5 litre buckets, all three with lids. My intention WAS to use the two 2.5 litre buckets to make nettle feed by placing one bucket inside the other with the inside bucket holes drilled in the bottom for easy access to strain out the water but I think I'll be using the 2.5 litre buckets now for creating this super plant juice instead with brown sugar.
My only question is, what type of brown sugar as you don't say exactly and there are many different types on the market!
well made video that simply explains what & how to do it I know some of the things i have been doing wrong with tomatoes
Once you make the fermented plant juice is it safe to touch? When is the nettle safe to handle?
Most useful information How. I didn't hear about adding brown sugar before. Thanks again for sharing the Knowledge.
Thank you so much Patrick I really appreciate it😊
Merci beaucoup pour ces précieux conseils ! From Auvergne ;) This is the third time I watch this video. I wish to share you the results in my garden.
Isn't this a traditional French technique? Fermented nettle tea was featured on an American gardening show decades ago at a magnificent kitchen garden in France.
@@leefi1 hey, yes you're right. But, it's not exactly the same method. I used to put nettle into rain water, not directly into sugar.
Thank you, I will definitely making this tonic .
Excellent info! Thank you both!!!
Rudolph Steiner biodynamic preparation 504.. these things sound crazy but they really work. We use Chamomile, Oak Bark Summer Horn Clay and others to kick start the life that for various reasons doesn't turn up in time. Awesome as ever
Nettles we're brought to England in roman times for the purpose of keeping the soldiers warm they use to whip or flag each other to increase circulation before battle! Nettles are a gem of a plant for wildlife and if composed correctly they make black compost the best in my opinion thanks for the video good content I'm growing brandywine bigboy,sunglow,crimson blush, big league it will be my first time growing these variety thanks for the info you sound like you know your onions bro 👍
They bought the Roman nettle, stinging nettles are native to UK, no sign of Roman Nettle left in UK.
@@HuwRichards thanks 👍
This is a really interesting method for amend the soil! Thank you, Huw. I definitely want to try. Nettles are very abundant as a weed in my garden. I’d like to know if I can use molasses instead of brown sugar, and how it would affect the recipe for preparing the fermented plant juice?
Molasses can be used but brown sugar is better at extraction of the minerals
What about white sugar?
I like the idea of molasses also. Isn't brown sugar made with molasses? Why would brown sugar be better? Sorry, interested in the science behind what I am doing.
Yes, experimentation in gardening is Good ! And also sharing, sharing experiences helps a lot!
So so true!
Love it. We use Nettles since years but never tried to ferment them. Question, will this complement the training of Bonsai Trees?
I did exactly this for a batch of 125 gms and all I got was a hard, thin lump of nettles and no juice. Kept a breathable cover as you instructed. I had to add a little water to get the juice to flow out so now not sure what the dilute ratio should be.
It's better to follow your intuition than to follow a recipe
For labeling jars, you may want to try painter's tape. It should be removable for a long time ( weeks, months ?) afterwards. Another option, of course, is to re-use actual card-board or cardstock paper (even cutting up used greeting cards) to make tags with at least one side available to write on. Punch a small hole and use string or a twist-tie to attach to the jar OR even use the main rubber band. By having one with just a little extra length or stretch beyond the size of the jar top, then 1st looping the band through the hole and back through itself, and then using per-normal to secure the fabric cover of course.
We just moved to a new property and had to order in soil. I don’t think there’s much nutrients in there so I’m going to make this until our compost is ready. Thanks Huw!!!
I just made tea from nettles for mo but I left it for an hour for the plants to seep.
I also started mulching with nettles and found out bunnies eat it dry as well. I got loads of nettles in my yard this year.
Bunnies? What about ants?
@@fernly2 what about them? I don't mind them they turn my soil so they have a function in my garden
Ah muy bueno y muy interesante, no vi esta mezcla de azucar y yerbas ,,probaré muchas gracias
Can I use this to spray indoor plants as well?
Hello Huw, thanks for this video. However, I am wondering if the sugar will attract ants and create a problem for the garden? Years ago my husband decided to feed his plants with sugar and it created a huge problem with ant colonies in our yard. I think I'll pass this sugar idea. I think (nettle + water = liquid fertilizer) will be good enough, and I'll just make a batch to use all within two weeks rather than letting it stink and neighbors unhappy... Thanks for all the videos and helpful ideas you've given us. Cheers.
Thank you! Will be doing this in a few minutes! I was making compost tea...thats good stuff too.