Crafting Home-made Green Fertilizer: Expert's Proven Technique Revealed
Green fertilizer, also known as green manure or liquid organic fertilizer, is a natural and effective way to boost nutrients for your plants, including cucumbers. This article will guide you through the process of preparing and using green fertilizer to promote healthier cucumber growth.
Suitable Weeds for Green Fertilizer
Common green weeds rich in nutrients such as dandelions, water spinach, grass clippings, or leafy green weeds are ideal for making green fertilizer. [4][1][5]
Fermentation Process
- Chop fresh green materials (e.g., water spinach or other leafy weeds) into small pieces to speed fermentation.
- Combine the chopped green material with a decomposer source such as stale rice and a food source for bacteria like brown sugar or molasses in water to create a fermenting mixture.
- Stir well and keep the mixture in an aerated container to allow fermentation for several days (typically about 1 week), breaking down the plant material into nutrients plants can absorb faster.
- The result is a concentrated liquid organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen and other nutrients.
How to Use Green Fertilizer
- Dilute the fermented green fertilizer with water before applying since it is concentrated. For mature plants like cucumbers, a common ratio is about 1 part fertilizer tea to 5 parts water.
- Application methods include:
- Soil drenching: Pour the diluted fertilizer at the base of plants to feed roots directly.
- Foliar feeding: Spray a further diluted solution on leaves for rapid nutrient absorption.
For cucumbers specifically, maintaining a soil pH around 6 to 6.8 is critical; green fertilizer helps supply nitrogen and micronutrients that support growth but should be complemented by managing soil pH and other nutrients. [2][3]
Additional Tips
- Test your soil before using any fertilizer to customize nutrient application.
- Regular pruning and maintaining soil health alongside fertilization will promote healthier cucumber growth.
- Other organic materials such as coffee grounds, eggshells, and grass clippings can also be mixed to enhance fertilizer nutrient variety, especially for leafy green crops.
When using this fertilizer for cucumbers, water under the root and spray the leaves, diluting the fertilizer 1:20 and adding a little kefir for an enhanced effect. The fertilizer can be enriched with yeast and manure after fermentation, preparing a starter culture separately and adding it to the ready mixture. [6]
Minimal stirring during fermentation helps prevent nitrogen loss. Larisa Zaruбиna suggests preparing a basic green fertilizer by chopping grass and water, then fermenting it before adding necessary components. The balance of microorganisms and nutrients is maintained by adding components after fermentation. Sugar (around 100 grams per 12 liters of water) is added for bacterial nutrition. [7]
Weeds with roots such as nettle, dandelions, plantain, and raspberry suckers are suitable for fertilization. This type of fertilizer is especially beneficial for cucumbers as it contains bacteria that protect plants from diseases. Only the green parts of the weeds should be used, avoiding branches and pests. [8]
The second feeding is applied 3 weeks later, with a reduced nitrogen content and added microelements like phosphorus and potassium. A special extract solution can also be used to add microelements during fermentation. [9]
For individuals interested in a sustainable home-and-garden lifestyle, making green fertilizer from common weeds such as dandelions, nettle, plantain, and raspberry suckers can be a great addition to their gardening routine. By using this compost tea, particularly beneficial for cucumbers due to its bacterial components that aid in disease protection, and following the fermentation process outlined, gardeners can improve their cucumber growth in a natural way. Green manure is an effective method to boost nutrients in the soil, including important micronutrients essential for a healthy cucumber lifestyle.
