Comfrey in buckets? While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
Right. I really don't understand why so many commenters are so flummoxed by this. It's the exact same as growing any other plant in-ground vs in a container... Crappy soil, crappy plant. Great soil - complete, healthy plant that makes excellent tea. In a container it's just probably not going to get as big.
I'm wondering if you cut the bottom of the container out would it still be contained or spread? Great video and one I've saved and will be referring back to often! Thank you so much👍🏻
P is also for flowers and fruits. So N up - leaves P down - roots, flower, fruits K - all around ... except for roots, flower, fruits, and leaves..yea.
This is why I love your channel, you're always teaching. Not just showing your life and recording cute animals all the time, but actually teaching people how to do things more efficiently. I have learned so much from your channel. Thank you!
Her and her husband are both awesome! I would love to meet them in person one day. Maybe they might offer some hands on learning one day or something where their followers could attend and meet them. Ya never know.
I miss my composting worms. They produced great castings and it was indeed nice knowing you knew what they were being fed. Had a nasty experience with bagged compost, this spring. Suspect it was aminopyralid. Luckily I didn't use it on any garden areas, only on some potted plants.
Wow, what a difference! I’ve been using rabbit pellets dry on the garden for two years now, and they are a fantastic fertilizer. I tried your soak method, and that brings it to a whole different level. The fertilizer goes straight down to the roots, and I literally saw a difference the next day. Thanks for all your great information. Wish we could hear more about rabbit care from you.
Good to know… I’ve got wild bunnies galore… by mid feb they are rampant… I’ve been collecting their poop off the ground, now I will def make tea, because it’s hard to collect enough to be super impactful … as they come and go and their poop is scattered. I’m going to build an all inclusive bunny resort for them, in hopes that they will poop all over in one concentrated area.
I'm a big fan of "Dave's Fetid Swampwater" (from the archives of David the Good) as fertilizer, especially for nightshades. Basically you take all your weeds and stuff them into a big barrel, then fill the barrel with water, lid it, and wait a week or two. It'll stink to high heaven when you take the lid off, but you dilute that in water and it'll make peppers and tomatoes grow like kudzu.
My 'homestead' is a balcony that measures 48 x 65 inches lol. Recently I read that if you put banana peel in a jar of water for 3-4 days, strain the liquid off to use as a fertilizer. As I don't like chemicals and have nowhere for either rabbits or comfrey I'm going to try this. Thank you for explaining everything so clearly!
Jason at Cog Hill uses a system from Hoss Tools I believe. It attaches to the drip irrigation and the whole garden gets fertilized at once.He has shown it a few times and I'm sure he will give you all the information on his. It's so much easier that way.
My traditional Comfrey (purple flower) doesn’t spread, nor re-seed. You need to dig cuttings from the roots when the plant is no longer flowering. The bees love it here! Also, can chop &drop the leaves around other plants. I make an infused oil with Comfrey. When my daughter broke her fibula bone, she used the oil on it & it healed quickly, without the need for surgery. It has also been called “knit bone”.
Comfrey is a favorite plant of the Permaculture Gardeners, the leaves are used as a mulch to help shade and protect the soil, and also provide nutrients and cover for the worms. If I had more space I would certainly grow it. What a fantastic gift.
From one teacher to another: thank you for your straightforward explanation of NPK and appropriate timing of their individual use. I didn't know, yet😉, that my manure teas needed straining. 🐔🐓
on the fertilizers, especially those labelled n-p-k the duration or frequency of application can vary from 2 weeks for miracle grow to 2-3 months to an entire growing season, so reading your label is important.
Great information. I’m always amazed at your knowledge and ability to explain it in a way we can all understand. Thank you for spending time to teach us.
Good Morning! This year I added rabbit manure to my pepper and tomato plants and there was 2 plants I didn't and its crazy the difference in the plants. I also use fish emulsion for fertilizer. Definitely better than chemicals!
Hi Sarah…. Good ,easy to follow information. You guys have done so much over the years & I love watching you. I’m in high dry sandy desert of upper Northern Nevada & 💜 seeing how people do gardening in actual Dirt 😂. I think I can chop some comfrey off a couple plants tomorrow. Too 🥵 today. Yesterday we reached 119 🥵🥵🥵🥵 & no rain. Just dry lightning ⚡️ strikes. Have a great day ❣️👩🌾
Nettle tea - another natural fertilizer. It grows everywhere (mostly in ditches), and works wonders. Once you come up with a method to inject fertilizer into your drip system, don’t forget to install filters, so your emitters don’t get clogged up. Good luck and God bless !
I also throw in weeds like plantain dandelion clover. Actually anything I pull out or trim off. Thanks for info on measurements and when and what to use at each stage. Very helpful
You explained this so well. I understand more about fertilizer now. I have to admit that fertilizer has been a big mystery to me. I had an ah-ha moment. Many thanks!
Old timers always told me not to fertilize tomatoes until the fruit is the size of a dime , they say if you fertilize before then the fertilizer goes to the plants and they grow way too big
It depends which nutrients are in the fertilizer. They need potassium for blooms and fruit. Too much nitrogen produces huge green leafy plants with no fruit.
Yes, if tomatoes are fertilized before fruiting, then all nutrients goes into the plant (and especially the sucker branches), then the larger plant will start feeding off the blossoms and fruit, and you won't have any tomatoes. Fertilize tomato plants late in the season.
Huh. I’ve been fertilizing half strength fish emulsion all year and my plants are producing blossoms and fruit just fine. Maybe it depends on how much granular fert you use when you plant them?
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
@@LivingTraditionsHomestead Thanks for replying to my question. I thought from your description the nutrients came from deep in the earth. Is comfrey invasive from its seeds or does it send out runners?
@@hollyslaughter5505 non-sterile "pure" comfrey plants will make a lot of seeds if you let it go to flower. The BIG problem is when people till it - little pieces of roots can grow a whole new plant. They don't really make runners like a blackberry plant. You want Bocking 14 comfrey - it's a hybrid that does not make viable seeds, but you still do not want to till it and spread pieces of the roots around.
@@dogslobbergardens6606 Yes, this is supposed to be the one that won't produce seeds and proliferate. I bought a few and planted them in small pots. Once they are established, I will put them in the ground.
Oh my goodness I planted just 1 comphrey plant and NOW I have it in all my beds! The best thing ever! We’re had 8 days of rain and the comphrey is huge and my garden has exploded in growth and fruits. Yes I make the teas also to fertilize and I rarely use the organic fertilizers I usually use now! HAPPY GARDENING!
You explained the MOM so well! Now I know what does what for my plants. Will make it easier to troubleshoot my plants. Thank you! Love watching you guys!
A couple of years ago, I saw a tv program where they built a coy pond. Then cycled the water through a hydroponic garden. They were only growing greens. All of the greens took off like a rocket ship! FYI: The show was called Insane Pools. This project was out of their wheelhouse, but quite successful.
I have the same problem with my tomato plants. I was at the store yesterday trying to figure out what get, but it was all too confusing to me. But God is awesome! You make this video explaining all that I was not able to figured out yesterday at the store. Thank you! I do have some fish fertilizer and will use it today. Once again, thank you and God bless!
You know, I'm watching this video for the second time. This was my very first video from your channel and I fell in love. I learned all about NPK here and so much from your other videos. Thank you for all you do for the gardening and homesteading community.
@@juliemcgugan1244 yes, we have very sandy soil - here in Central Florida anyway. Sorta like talcum powder!! Unless it rains tons, you can dig down and only the top inch or so will be moist. Water just runs off.
@@chayh.6249 The same with us in Paphos Cyprus, as we're ten minutes from the beach. Took a long time and lots of work to add humic content so it retains water and minerals. I don't till it at all, but use a no-dig method and do chop and drop.
I use the fish emulsion on my plants twice a week and they are thriving so well. I learn about the fish emulsion from you guys!!! I’m so happy I did cos my plants are doing so wel
Another great video! Appreciate your variety. We use comfrey, grass clippings, and have chickens so never need to buy fertilizer for the garden but use some kelp for seedlings early on.
Thank you so much. I love how you two are so great at teaching how to do what you do. You are our best homestead family that goes through all the ins and outs on gardening, and animal husbandry. We only have chickens but we plan to start a chicken and rabbit operation like Joel Salitin’s.
Really like LT Homestead and all their data - A MUST for the free fertilizer is to get a copy of "Liquid Gold" Game changer once you move past some silly mental fog!! I amp up my compost production, supplement to my semi hydroponic tank and use on all my heavy feeders early summer! (Peas - Corn and comfrey) I use comfrey mostly to get greens in the compost. May try a tea soon!
Thank you so much for the organic fertilizer tutorial. It was the best explanation I have ever heard. You explained in a way anyone should be able to understand; just as you do all things on the homestead. Thank you! Love your videos!!
Thanks for the explanation of N-P-K, that was extremely helpful. Also, one commenter mentioned N-P-K, up-down-all around which seems like a good way to remember it. Wonderful advice on those natural fertilizers Sara!
It's pretty rare to really have a calcium deficiency in your soil. Usually a lack of calcium *in the plants* is due to pH problems, watering problems, or both. Don't buy the hype that you have to purchase expensive calcium amendments like Cal-Mag... they're a ripoff. If you really do need more calcium and/or magnesium, just google how to make "cal mag" yourself. You'll be pleasantly surprised how cheap and easy it is.
@@dogslobbergardens6606 Agree, well put. Magnesium is the roadway allows plants to take up the nutrients, calcium the nutrient, but water is the vehicle. No water, no transmission, " inconsistent" water is normally the problem. One should always check PH of soil first. Calcium, and lime will both raise your PH.
Thank you for sharing, l never new why some of my tomatoe plant would not flower. I thought l was putting them to close but now l understand that they aren’t getting enough of pottasium and phosphorus! Thank you so much for all you do. Blessings
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
I think Goat manure may have a high acid level that could burn some plants. I know that Horse manure should sit out for a year or more before you put it on the garden. I prefer two years. I have never tried goat manure. I also like to let cow manure sit for a year or two as well especially if it comes from a factory farm, I don't know what is in their feed.
I'm new to fish emulsion and I love it. I had some tomatoes that were not doing well. I sprayed the foliage with the fish emulsion and OMG they perked right up and wow! A few weeks later I did organic gardens spikes (fertilizer that comes in a little spike you push in next to the plant, can't remember the name) and that really helped them grow nice and tall. I have mostly determinant this year and I planted raised beds really heavy so I have to keep up on it, but I'm loving it.
I am going to pick a nit or two here. Those two “free” options are free for you, as you raise rabbits for meat and are already going comfrey. Those of us who aren’t, have to purchase rabbit manure and/or scavenge for comfrey. I haven’t found any comfrey in my neighborhood (I live in Central Massachusetts) nor know anyone who raises rabbits.
we use those large plastic & metal totes, we fill with water and fertilizer and hook up our hose that is connected to our drip system, it works well and you can do them all at once. (we have two one for each garden.) before we use them we take it to the car wash and clean them out we also do this when the algae gets to bad works very well.
A company that is a GMO promoter ruining farmers lives and wanted permits for kitchen gardens (without success) needs to end. Yes- use other/ natural forms of nutrients!!!!!
@@lee22822 also the radio frequencies from WIFI, smart meters, cell towers, and all sorts of electronics destroy our pollinators too. There are cell phone apps that emit a frequency to repel mosquitos, so it’s plausible & likely that other frequencies are permeating our environments & killing our insect workers.
Thank you so much Sarah! This is very helpful information you shared! I will definitely use these in our garden! May God bless you and your family! I always enjoy your videos!! 😍🤗
Thank you for this. My grandfather always said to use rabbit pellets straight from the rabbit to the garden. I will definitely try this. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge
We love comfrey! We have a comfrey plant under every fruit tree! We use it for fertilizer, in our salves for bone and skin healing, and teas for bronchial, asthmatic pneumonia symptoms!😉
I’ve read where comfrey is considered a good companion plant for orchard trees along with lupine and couple other plants. Any thoughts on that? I was thinking about putting some under my apple trees….. My chuckle moment of this video…… “mmm, dusty!”
I've also heard about comfrey around orchard trees. I need to learn more. A friend of mine planted mints around her trees. Also something to learn more about.
I have Comfrey growing naturally under my Apple Tree in my Garden, here in Scotland. They apples are amazing ! And the Bees like the Comfrey Flowers, and the Apple trees like the Bees ! Win, win, win. 🤗 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 I also have Runner Duck 'Mulch', aka wet Ducky Poop and Straw, it feeds and blocks weeds ! 🤭 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆
@@LivingTraditionsHomestead i would love to know what you learn, sort of a notes comparison for what i’ve been reading. I have enough comfrey seeds, i may plant some near the grapes i just planted this year as well.
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
So excited to see this. We are on a tight budget and we have several acres with lots of comfrey growing - I am running outside to let my husband know right now to start harvesting comfrey and get to brewing some 'tea' for my plants. Thank you. Now I just need to find how to get rid of the chomping worms and pests organically. I have sprayed a Neem oil mix a couple of times on my Brussel sprouts and cabbage - seems like it may be slowly working. Now we have the Japanese Beetles emerging and chomping on things like my squash plants. Does it ever end? I can say that this is our first year trying out the weed fabric - what a game changer! I was not interested in doing a garden this year as I cannot keep up with all of the weeds in the past. I am loving this fabric - I just go out and pull a few weeds coming through where the holes are and am done. If not for the fabric, the whole area would be covered in the weeks and already would have taken over. We are so happy we came across your vid on the fabric. THANK YOU!
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
Thought I would let you know, I used your design for feed and waterers yesterday and they seem to be working good. I had a bucket with the little red cups with the yellow valve and my month old chickens couldn't seem to figure them out. I would hold the yellow part down and fill the cups, they would drink the water, but couldn't seem to figure out to push on the yellow part ti refill the cup. When I put the rubber tub and the inverted 5 gallon bucket in, they seemed to do okay with it. I have a question for you about the chicken tractors. How the heck do you get them square? I had a heck of a time getting my metal and hardware cloth on because they were so whapperjawed. I had to use a big tie down strap to try to get it to where I could get them on. I'm asking because I need to build 2 more and want them to be less of a pain in the butt to build. Another interesting video today, keep them coming. Have a good day,
I thought the idea of the benefits of comfrey was that it was a bioaccumulator. By growing them in pots sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it. Sure it should still have the macro nutrients (N,P,K) through photosynthetic growth but limited micro nutrients due to growing in pot
@@barbaragaspard1989 I don't amend my soil by tilling things in. I use a no-dig method, which I learned from Charles Dowding. Maybe it doesn't work for Kevin or Sarah in their geographical location, but it works for me. I use bocking 14 comfrey that isn't invasive and I get free mulch all year around (i live where it doesn't die off during winter. It is hardy to temperatures here and we have no risk of frost, year-round. Can't tell you what anybody else's reason for using comfrey is, but this is mine. Have not dug my garden beds since I installed them. I just chop and drop my comfrey all year around. Sometimes I also mulch with stinging nettle, as long as it is not in-seed. It is also a great fertilizer! And dried seaweed I have picked up along the shore, on my trips to the beach. I don't even compost it. It is plentiful where I live. I don't even divide my comfrey, either, I just harvest it when it is getting too big and it has not expanded out of the section I have planted it in.
Same, I grew a variety called blocking 14 in the ground, to mine all of the nutrients that my other plants couldn’t get. However, pls do be careful with other varieties. Bocking 14 is sort of sterile, so it will not spread seed or spread vegetatively like other varieties can. It can be very, very invasive and you may not be able to control it after putting even a single plant into the ground. Better to put it in containers, if it is not bocking 14, than risk it spreading and taking over in your neighborhood. Even a small piece of root (the roots go so deep!) left behind will produce a new plant. Maybe Sarah was just trying to explain what comfrey is capable of, but chooses to keep it contained, than risk it spreading?
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
Been adding 1 feed sack of rabbit poo to each 10x4 raised bed. Only once before I plant. Really conditions the soil and attracts the worms. Last year was year six and I couldn't source any poo. I did not fertilize at all. I just planted. Soil is so good all my Kelloggs breakfast maters were 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Rabbit poo gives you a green thumb.😁😁
Comfrey in buckets? While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
Would it still be contained if you planted it in a bucket with the bottom removed and bucket planted say 1/4 of the way in the ground?
The exact question I had! Thanks!
Right. I really don't understand why so many commenters are so flummoxed by this. It's the exact same as growing any other plant in-ground vs in a container... Crappy soil, crappy plant. Great soil - complete, healthy plant that makes excellent tea. In a container it's just probably not going to get as big.
won't only have nutrients you feed it?
I'm wondering if you cut the bottom of the container out would it still be contained or spread? Great video and one I've saved and will be referring back to often! Thank you so much👍🏻
The way I remember N,P,K, is N up P down and K all around . Up for leaves down for roots and all around for the total plant .
That should be used as a logo.
Thank you ☺️
P is also for flowers and fruits.
So
N up - leaves
P down - roots, flower, fruits
K - all around ... except for roots, flower, fruits, and leaves..yea.
same way I was taught
This is why I love your channel, you're always teaching. Not just showing your life and recording cute animals all the time, but actually teaching people how to do things more efficiently. I have learned so much from your channel. Thank you!
Her and her husband are both awesome! I would love to meet them in person one day. Maybe they might offer some hands on learning one day or something where their followers could attend and meet them. Ya never know.
We only use worm castings on trees we plant and our garden. We also raise the worms so we know what they are fed.
I miss my composting worms. They produced great castings and it was indeed nice knowing you knew what they were being fed. Had a nasty experience with bagged compost, this spring. Suspect it was aminopyralid. Luckily I didn't use it on any garden areas, only on some potted plants.
If Sarah was my science teacher i would never have had a reason to fall asleep. Informative and teaches in a way that i can understand.
I totally have to agree with you here 😁😁😁
She is intersting
I wholeheartedly agree
Except the 1, 2, 6 tablespoon count. It's been a while, but I remember some numbers in between.
@@robertpaul50n 🤣🤣 That part was so cute.
Wow, what a difference! I’ve been using rabbit pellets dry on the garden for two years now, and they are a fantastic fertilizer. I tried your soak method, and that brings it to a whole different level. The fertilizer goes straight down to the roots, and I literally saw a difference the next day. Thanks for all your great information. Wish we could hear more about rabbit care from you.
Do you make rabbit pellet tea?
Good to know… I’ve got wild bunnies galore… by mid feb they are rampant… I’ve been collecting their poop off the ground, now I will def make tea, because it’s hard to collect enough to be super impactful … as they come and go and their poop is scattered. I’m going to build an all inclusive bunny resort for them, in hopes that they will poop all over in one concentrated area.
Cool about the rabbits just so they don't dig up your carrots!
Miracle dirt does not work for tube plants like tulips and radishes
I'm a big fan of "Dave's Fetid Swampwater" (from the archives of David the Good) as fertilizer, especially for nightshades. Basically you take all your weeds and stuff them into a big barrel, then fill the barrel with water, lid it, and wait a week or two. It'll stink to high heaven when you take the lid off, but you dilute that in water and it'll make peppers and tomatoes grow like kudzu.
My mom used to have beautiful gardens growing veggies and fruit but now she's where the Rose's never fade!!
❤️
So sad for you. hugs.
You guys are such good instructors. This video is so comprehensive on fertilizers. thanks, Jove
My 'homestead' is a balcony that measures 48 x 65 inches lol.
Recently I read that if you put banana peel in a jar of water for 3-4 days, strain the liquid off to use as a fertilizer. As I don't like chemicals and have nowhere for either rabbits or comfrey I'm going to try this.
Thank you for explaining everything so clearly!
Jason at Cog Hill uses a system from Hoss Tools I believe. It attaches to the drip irrigation and the whole garden gets fertilized at once.He has shown it a few times and I'm sure he will give you all the information on his. It's so much easier that way.
Sarah you are sooooo good at explaining everything and you are such a lovely person. Thankyou for all your videos! ❤
My traditional Comfrey (purple flower) doesn’t spread, nor re-seed. You need to dig cuttings from the roots when the plant is no longer flowering. The bees love it here! Also, can chop &drop the leaves around other plants. I make an infused oil with Comfrey. When my daughter broke her fibula bone, she used the oil on it & it healed quickly, without the need for surgery. It has also been called “knit bone”.
Comfrey is a favorite plant of the Permaculture Gardeners, the leaves are used as a mulch to help shade and protect the soil, and also provide nutrients and cover for the worms. If I had more space I would certainly grow it. What a fantastic gift.
I also use stinging nettle which grows wild near to me.
@@juliemcgugan1244 dumbbell me. Just bought seeds of stinging nettle to discover best friend has it all over his yard. Same with comfrey !
Thumbs Up from The Dooley's Homestead from Michigan. Moving to our Farmstead today.
Congrats!!!
From one teacher to another: thank you for your straightforward explanation of NPK and appropriate timing of their individual use. I didn't know, yet😉, that my manure teas needed straining. 🐔🐓
@LiveOkie see
on the fertilizers, especially those labelled n-p-k the duration or frequency of application can vary from 2 weeks for miracle grow to 2-3 months to an entire growing season, so reading your label is important.
Great information. I’m always amazed at your knowledge and ability to explain it in a way we can all understand. Thank you for spending time to teach us.
I don’t have a garden, but I am sure your information is very useful to those who do, God bless.
Good Morning! This year I added rabbit manure to my pepper and tomato plants and there was 2 plants I didn't and its crazy the difference in the plants. I also use fish emulsion for fertilizer. Definitely better than chemicals!
Oh wow!
Very thankful for your channel or I wouldn't have known to add rabbit manure to my plants! Thank you!
Hi Sarah…. Good ,easy to follow information. You guys have done so much over the years & I love watching you. I’m in high dry sandy desert of upper Northern Nevada & 💜 seeing how people do gardening in actual Dirt 😂. I think I can chop some comfrey off a couple plants tomorrow. Too 🥵 today. Yesterday we reached 119 🥵🥵🥵🥵 & no rain. Just dry lightning ⚡️ strikes.
Have a great day ❣️👩🌾
Nettle tea - another natural fertilizer. It grows everywhere (mostly in ditches), and works wonders.
Once you come up with a method to inject fertilizer into your drip system, don’t forget to install filters, so your emitters don’t get clogged up.
Good luck and God bless !
Sarah you did a great job of explaining the fertilizer stuff, you are such a fantastic teacher. Thank you. Much love from Utah
Never heard of Comfrey!!! Wow, thank you so much.
I also throw in weeds like plantain dandelion clover. Actually anything I pull out or trim off. Thanks for info on measurements and when and what to use at each stage. Very helpful
I could never remember which nutrient to use when. Your explanation made it crystal clear. Thank you.
I have learned NPK as shoots roots fruit it helps me remember 😉
Thank you!
Ah Hah!!!
I finally get it! Homemade Organic fertilizer explained for the beginner farmer. Yea!!!!!
Thank you, Sarah @ Living Traditions Homestead!!!
You explained this so well. I understand more about fertilizer now. I have to admit that fertilizer has been a big mystery to me. I had an ah-ha moment. Many thanks!
Me too!
Same here.
Count me in, too
You are always so helpful with everything including leaving me with a feeling that I have just spent some quality time with an old friend 💖
Old timers always told me not to fertilize tomatoes until the fruit is the size of a dime , they say if you fertilize before then the fertilizer goes to the plants and they grow way too big
It depends which nutrients are in the fertilizer. They need potassium for blooms and fruit. Too much nitrogen produces huge green leafy plants with no fruit.
Yes, if tomatoes are fertilized before fruiting, then all nutrients goes into the plant (and especially the sucker branches), then the larger plant will start feeding off the blossoms and fruit, and you won't have any tomatoes. Fertilize tomato plants late in the season.
@@johnlord8337 so what to do if plants don't look too great before they bloom & fruit? When u first put them in the ground?
Huh. I’ve been fertilizing half strength fish emulsion all year and my plants are producing blossoms and fruit just fine. Maybe it depends on how much granular fert you use when you plant them?
@@CG-mj8tk
Well if they are wilted , water them if they are over grown and too tall dig a deeper hole
You explained the fertilizer information very well and it is very helpful to me😊🙏🏻
How does the comfrey collect nutrients from deep in the earth growing in buckets?
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
@@LivingTraditionsHomestead
Thanks for replying to my question. I thought from your description the nutrients came from deep in the earth. Is comfrey invasive from its seeds or does it send out runners?
@@hollyslaughter5505 non-sterile "pure" comfrey plants will make a lot of seeds if you let it go to flower. The BIG problem is when people till it - little pieces of roots can grow a whole new plant. They don't really make runners like a blackberry plant.
You want Bocking 14 comfrey - it's a hybrid that does not make viable seeds, but you still do not want to till it and spread pieces of the roots around.
Ive used comfrey for different things but as a fertilizer is a new one to me, thank you so much
@@dogslobbergardens6606 Yes, this is supposed to be the one that won't produce seeds and proliferate. I bought a few and planted them in small pots. Once they are established, I will put them in the ground.
Oh my goodness I planted just 1 comphrey plant and NOW I have it in all my beds! The best thing ever! We’re had 8 days of rain and the comphrey is huge and my garden has exploded in growth and fruits. Yes I make the teas also to fertilize and I rarely use the organic fertilizers I usually use now! HAPPY GARDENING!
Good info for us in Central FL. We can always use a good fertilization tip. Stay safe up there!
yep!
You explained the MOM so well! Now I know what does what for my plants. Will make it easier to troubleshoot my plants. Thank you! Love watching you guys!
I like using manure tea. I make it in a 55 gallon barrel.
A couple of years ago, I saw a tv program where they built a coy pond. Then cycled the water through a hydroponic garden. They were only growing greens. All of the greens took off like a rocket ship!
FYI: The show was called Insane Pools. This project was out of their wheelhouse, but quite successful.
Good talk!! Still working on get our comfrey established but this is a good next step for our family garden. Thanks!
I have the same problem with my tomato plants. I was at the store yesterday trying to figure out what get, but it was all too confusing to me. But God is awesome! You make this video explaining all that I was not able to figured out yesterday at the store. Thank you! I do have some fish fertilizer and will use it today. Once again, thank you and God bless!
I love the way you teach! You are a beautiful and inspiring young woman with so much knowledge of real gardening.
that she is !!!
Excellent Information on Fertilizers! Anyone giving a thumbs down doesn't garden or they'd know these Really work well.
Fermentered Stinging Nettles is what is used in my part of the world.
Me too! It is great, apart from when it has gone to seed.
Best explanation of NPK I’ve seen, thank you SOOO very much Sara!! And my plants thank you too. Haha
Good Morning from Raleigh, NC. Love your videos!
Good ☕️ Morning Kevin & Sarah,very interesting & informative video.Thank you ! 👏☺️👍
Great reminder to fertilize my plants. I haven't made any compost tea yet. I need to get some started. 😊
You know, I'm watching this video for the second time. This was my very first video from your channel and I fell in love. I learned all about NPK here and so much from your other videos. Thank you for all you do for the gardening and homesteading community.
G’day from rainy south Florida! This is a place that needs lots of fertilizer.
Sandy soil?
Miracle-Gro has too much toxins, it causes Cancer... 😕
It’s rainy here in Central Florida too!!!!🙃
@@juliemcgugan1244 yes, we have very sandy soil - here in Central Florida anyway. Sorta like talcum powder!! Unless it rains tons, you can dig down and only the top inch or so will be moist. Water just runs off.
@@chayh.6249 The same with us in Paphos Cyprus, as we're ten minutes from the beach. Took a long time and lots of work to add humic content so it retains water and minerals. I don't till it at all, but use a no-dig method and do chop and drop.
I use the fish emulsion on my plants twice a week and they are thriving so well. I learn about the fish emulsion from you guys!!! I’m so happy I did cos my plants are doing so wel
Another great video! Appreciate your variety. We use comfrey, grass clippings, and have chickens so never need to buy fertilizer for the garden but use some kelp for seedlings early on.
I only use Espoma products when planting and then I don't usually need any other applications. It's great stuff!
I use comfrey in my healing ointments.....
Thank you so much. I love how you two are so great at teaching how to do what you do. You are our best homestead family that goes through all the ins and outs on gardening, and animal husbandry. We only have chickens but we plan to start a chicken and rabbit operation like Joel Salitin’s.
Really like LT Homestead and all their data - A MUST for the free fertilizer is to get a copy of "Liquid Gold" Game changer once you move past some silly mental fog!! I amp up my compost production, supplement to my semi hydroponic tank and use on all my heavy feeders early summer! (Peas - Corn and comfrey) I use comfrey mostly to get greens in the compost. May try a tea soon!
Job very well done and nice simple way of showing, taking, and using it that's impossible for anyone to messy things up ☺🤗
Very educational Sarah. I’m going to see about the comfrey. I have the rabbit and fish stuff. Mom used rabbit a lot..
Thanks for breaking it down for me. Fertilizing is a topic that makes me confused and your explanation really helped. Thank you!!
“Giant poop teabag‼️” 🤣
And , wow! Every homesteader and gardener should have rabbits and comfrey I’m thinkin. 🤔
I don't have rabbits, but my sister gives me poop from her guinea pigs.
Yeah I agree
Thank you so much for the organic fertilizer tutorial. It was the best explanation I have ever heard. You explained in a way anyone should be able to understand; just as you do all things on the homestead. Thank you! Love your videos!!
We got a few peppers off our plants yesterday.
I have used AgroThrive in my hand sprayer for foliar feeding. It did not clog my sprayer and the results are very good.
Awesome video Sarah! The "poop teabag" joke made me laugh out loud...😂
Sarah could just make diapers for the rabbits and collect, then use them as tea bags. LOL 😁
@@terracotta6294 that's a great idea! 😂
Thanks for the explanation of N-P-K, that was extremely helpful. Also, one commenter mentioned N-P-K, up-down-all around which seems like a good way to remember it. Wonderful advice on those natural fertilizers Sara!
calcium and magnesium is extremely important too
It's pretty rare to really have a calcium deficiency in your soil. Usually a lack of calcium *in the plants* is due to pH problems, watering problems, or both. Don't buy the hype that you have to purchase expensive calcium amendments like Cal-Mag... they're a ripoff. If you really do need more calcium and/or magnesium, just google how to make "cal mag" yourself. You'll be pleasantly surprised how cheap and easy it is.
@@dogslobbergardens6606 TY,,,, 👍
@@dogslobbergardens6606 Agree, well put. Magnesium is the roadway
allows plants to take up the nutrients, calcium the nutrient, but water is the vehicle. No water, no transmission, " inconsistent" water is normally the problem. One should always check PH of soil first. Calcium, and
lime will both raise your PH.
Thank you for sharing, l never new why some of my tomatoe plant would not flower. I thought l was putting them to close but now l understand that they aren’t getting enough of pottasium and phosphorus! Thank you so much for all you do. Blessings
I didn't know this about comfrey, but how can it pull nutrients "up from deep in the ground" if its growing in a bucket?
First step…….take it out of the bucket 😎
Fair- dandelions are good for pulling nutrients from deep in the ground as well!
My thoughts exactly!
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
Put good soil in the bucket in the first place. Come on folks, think it through :)
Thanks for sharing with us Sarah, looks good around there. Fred 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👋👋
Gardening Day by Day : Hoss Tools.
Pull up their videos on their drip line fertilization equipment. Looks to be pretty simple.
Hoss Tools has it going on, they have some excellent videos.
I came to the comments to say just this! 👍
I’m not much of a gardener lately, but I just enjoy watching and learning from y’all anyway. You explained NPK perfectly, thank you!
What are your thoughts about using chicken and goat manure tea?
Edit: so much I didn't know. Thanks Sarah!
I think Goat manure may have a high acid level that could burn some plants. I know that Horse manure should sit out for a year or more before you put it on the garden. I prefer two years. I have never tried goat manure. I also like to let cow manure sit for a year or two as well especially if it comes from a factory farm, I don't know what is in their feed.
@@brianmartin7964 thanks for your answer!
I'm new to fish emulsion and I love it. I had some tomatoes that were not doing well. I sprayed the foliage with the fish emulsion and OMG they perked right up and wow! A few weeks later I did organic gardens spikes (fertilizer that comes in a little spike you push in next to the plant, can't remember the name) and that really helped them grow nice and tall. I have mostly determinant this year and I planted raised beds really heavy so I have to keep up on it, but I'm loving it.
Oh yeah, jobes, duh! LOL
Dusty the a Gaint poop tea bag. That was so funny made me chuckle.
Yes....cracked me up too!!!
Thank you for all that you do! I always enjoy listening and sharing! You are a joy.. God Bless
Check out Farmer Dre on UA-cam. He uses an inline fertilizer dosing system for his hoop house tomatoes.
I hope I can remember all this very helpful info. I saved the video so I can come back to it. Thank you.
I am going to pick a nit or two here. Those two “free” options are free for you, as you raise rabbits for meat and are already going comfrey. Those of us who aren’t, have to purchase rabbit manure and/or scavenge for comfrey. I haven’t found any comfrey in my neighborhood (I live in Central Massachusetts) nor know anyone who raises rabbits.
Any alpaca/llama owners in your area? Alpaca is also a 'cool' manure, and doesn't need to be composted to use. And it's in pellets, too.
You can order comfrey online
Thanks for the info. I”lol look into those.
I don’t have access to comfrey or animal poo either, but the fish emulsion has worked great.
@@gloriamitchell2376 hi Gloria. Where online? I have looked at every seed and plant stores I know of and could not locate Comfrey seed or bare root.
Love your channel and the love for nature that you convey to your viewers
What happened to the Shower Garden? We haven't seen an update in a long time.
we use those large plastic & metal totes, we fill with water and fertilizer and hook up our hose that is connected to our drip system, it works well and you can do them all at once. (we have two one for each garden.) before we use them we take it to the car wash and clean them out we also do this when the algae gets to bad works very well.
I feel like homesteading is largely successful by keeping the inner functioning by DIY activities. Consider making your own fish emulsion, then?
Or find a friend with an aquarium.
Very helpful information about the way to make three different types of fertilizers and how to use them. Thank you very much
A company that is a GMO promoter ruining farmers lives and wanted permits for kitchen gardens (without success) needs to end. Yes- use other/ natural forms of nutrients!!!!!
Absolutely, sadly people don't realize that these toxins is what contributes to cancer..
@@dps5819 I have a feeling it also has a part in the decline in our pollinators
@@lee22822 also the radio frequencies from WIFI, smart meters, cell towers, and all sorts of electronics destroy our pollinators too. There are cell phone apps that emit a frequency to repel mosquitos, so it’s plausible & likely that other frequencies are permeating our environments & killing our insect workers.
Thank you so much Sarah! This is very helpful information you shared! I will definitely use these in our garden! May God bless you and your family! I always enjoy your videos!! 😍🤗
Since comfrey is so prolific, might it be grown for animal feed?
Yes! We give a leaf to each rabbit a day and ten leaves for about 20 chickens a day!😉
Thank you for this. My grandfather always said to use rabbit pellets straight from the rabbit to the garden. I will definitely try this. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge
We love comfrey! We have a comfrey plant under every fruit tree! We use it for fertilizer, in our salves for bone and skin healing, and teas for bronchial, asthmatic pneumonia symptoms!😉
For those that can get a hold of sheep manure that is the BEST fertilizer. It is a cold fertilizer and you can put it on fresh.
I’ve read where comfrey is considered a good companion plant for orchard trees along with lupine and couple other plants. Any thoughts on that? I was thinking about putting some under my apple trees…..
My chuckle moment of this video…… “mmm, dusty!”
I've also heard about comfrey around orchard trees. I need to learn more. A friend of mine planted mints around her trees. Also something to learn more about.
Yes! We have one under every fruit tree here!
We have garlic and comfrey planted around our high-density apple trees.
I have Comfrey growing naturally under my Apple Tree in my Garden, here in Scotland. They apples are amazing ! And the Bees like the Comfrey Flowers, and the Apple trees like the Bees !
Win, win, win. 🤗
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
I also have Runner Duck 'Mulch', aka wet Ducky Poop and Straw, it feeds and blocks weeds ! 🤭
🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆
@@LivingTraditionsHomestead i would love to know what you learn, sort of a notes comparison for what i’ve been reading. I have enough comfrey seeds, i may plant some near the grapes i just planted this year as well.
thank you for this super easy and super fertilizers. you have two beautiful dimples..goes well with your smile !!!
If it goes deep to get minerals, then growing it in buckets defeats this benefit
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
@@LivingTraditionsHomestead makes sense, thank you
So excited to see this. We are on a tight budget and we have several acres with lots of comfrey growing - I am running outside to let my husband know right now to start harvesting comfrey and get to brewing some 'tea' for my plants. Thank you. Now I just need to find how to get rid of the chomping worms and pests organically. I have sprayed a Neem oil mix a couple of times on my Brussel sprouts and cabbage - seems like it may be slowly working. Now we have the Japanese Beetles emerging and chomping on things like my squash plants. Does it ever end? I can say that this is our first year trying out the weed fabric - what a game changer! I was not interested in doing a garden this year as I cannot keep up with all of the weeds in the past. I am loving this fabric - I just go out and pull a few weeds coming through where the holes are and am done. If not for the fabric, the whole area would be covered in the weeks and already would have taken over. We are so happy we came across your vid on the fabric. THANK YOU!
If your growing in buckets doesn’t that defeat the purpose of trying to harvest those deep roots minerals from the grounds? 🤔🤔🤫
I was just about to ask that very same question and I saw you already had
You are correct but if you worry about them spreading too far it may be a good idea I guess.
Yes, this is what I thought, too. They are horrifically invasive, unless it is a sterile variety called bocking 14.
Dandelions do something similar.
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
A great teaching Sarah ! Be blessed and favored 🙏🏽💖
Thought I would let you know, I used your design for feed and waterers yesterday and they seem to be working good. I had a bucket with the little red cups with the yellow valve and my month old chickens couldn't seem to figure them out. I would hold the yellow part down and fill the cups, they would drink the water, but couldn't seem to figure out to push on the yellow part ti refill the cup. When I put the rubber tub and the inverted 5 gallon bucket in, they seemed to do okay with it.
I have a question for you about the chicken tractors. How the heck do you get them square? I had a heck of a time getting my metal and hardware cloth on because they were so whapperjawed. I had to use a big tie down strap to try to get it to where I could get them on.
I'm asking because I need to build 2 more and want them to be less of a pain in the butt to build.
Another interesting video today, keep them coming. Have a good day,
Check out their video on how they built them.
I am 73 years old and never knew what the numbers stood for on fertilizer. Thanks for the informative video.
I thought the idea of the benefits of comfrey was that it was a bioaccumulator. By growing them in pots sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it. Sure it should still have the macro nutrients (N,P,K) through photosynthetic growth but limited micro nutrients due to growing in pot
They are horrifically invasive and will spread, unless you use a sterile variety that does not spread, called bocking 14.
@@barbaragaspard1989 I don't amend my soil by tilling things in. I use a no-dig method, which I learned from Charles Dowding. Maybe it doesn't work for Kevin or Sarah in their geographical location, but it works for me. I use bocking 14 comfrey that isn't invasive and I get free mulch all year around (i live where it doesn't die off during winter. It is hardy to temperatures here and we have no risk of frost, year-round. Can't tell you what anybody else's reason for using comfrey is, but this is mine. Have not dug my garden beds since I installed them. I just chop and drop my comfrey all year around. Sometimes I also mulch with stinging nettle, as long as it is not in-seed. It is also a great fertilizer! And dried seaweed I have picked up along the shore, on my trips to the beach. I don't even compost it. It is plentiful where I live. I don't even divide my comfrey, either, I just harvest it when it is getting too big and it has not expanded out of the section I have planted it in.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful ‘miracle’ plants. Hope you and family have a bless evening.
No disrespect but if you grow comfrey in a container its tap root can't draw nutrients from deep in the ground.
Same, I grew a variety called blocking 14 in the ground, to mine all of the nutrients that my other plants couldn’t get. However, pls do be careful with other varieties. Bocking 14 is sort of sterile, so it will not spread seed or spread vegetatively like other varieties can. It can be very, very invasive and you may not be able to control it after putting even a single plant into the ground. Better to put it in containers, if it is not bocking 14, than risk it spreading and taking over in your neighborhood. Even a small piece of root (the roots go so deep!) left behind will produce a new plant. Maybe Sarah was just trying to explain what comfrey is capable of, but chooses to keep it contained, than risk it spreading?
While growing comfrey in buckets or containers will not allow their taproot to grow deep in the ground, it will still have the valuable NPK. Comfrey can be a very invasive plant when not carefully managed. Buckets or containers are a good alternative to prevent raised beds from being overtaken or having it spread wildly throughout the garden. Comfrey will contain more calcium and other important bio nutrients if grown in the ground. Using comfrey from buckets is still a far superior form of fertilizer than Miracle-Gro.
Been adding 1 feed sack of rabbit poo to each 10x4 raised bed. Only once before I plant. Really conditions the soil and attracts the worms. Last year was year six and I couldn't source any poo. I did not fertilize at all. I just planted. Soil is so good all my Kelloggs breakfast maters were 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Rabbit poo gives you a green thumb.😁😁