liquid feed?

westcoast · Post by **westcoast** » 27 Mar 2014, 20:18

Putting seaweed on the garden today but filled a 205ltr drum to the top my intention is to use it for a liquid feed.

I have access to poultry, cow and sheep manure too should I add some also as it rots down? Should I fill it with water now or wait til it rots further?

As I have not tried this any recipes/advice.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 27 Mar 2014, 20:23

For the seaweed liquid, just stuff as much seaweed in the container as poss, then fill with water to the top of the weed. No need to add anything else, just wait 2 weeks.

Make sure whatever you're going to put it on isn't something that's sensitive to a bit of salt. Better still, be absolutely certain of this by using it all to grow asparagus

westcoast · Post by **westcoast** » 27 Mar 2014, 20:27

how do you use it neat or watered down?

Lurkalot · Post by **Lurkalot** » 28 Mar 2014, 08:50

I've never used seaweed as I live in the midlands so really a lack of access for it but I do use comfrey and nettles in a barrel of water to produce a liquid feed. The general rule that I was always taught was the feed is ready when it smells like an open sewer. I use it diluted but not actually measured to any exact proportions .I've also done the same with cow muck . It can be a good idea to put the muck or plant material in a hessian bag to form a crude filter that helps stop bits blocking up watering cans.
I was told a different method is to suspend the comfrey in a bag with a container underneath. A thick brown liquid will drip from the bag but importantly there isn't the sewer smell. I've not got round to trying the method out yet as the barrel of rotting stuff is far enough away not to be a nuisance (that and I'm probably just to idle /busy to try it).

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 28 Mar 2014, 14:21

9-to-1 is a dilution ratio I have heard. The neat stuff will "burn" plants.

Lurkalot · Post by **Lurkalot** » 28 Mar 2014, 15:45

That's probably the sort of concentration I use , albeit in a very crude way. I put about half a saucepan of feed in the watering can and top it up with water from the butt.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 Mar 2014, 16:27

I have an old galvanised steel water tank, of the domestic cold water variety. It stays full of water and I just put in as much comfrey as I have or that will fit in. I dunk the watering can in and top up with a hose. Much of the watering in the greenhouse is by this method. It's probably mostly pretty concentrated but I've no way to measure anything. It works.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 28 Mar 2014, 20:28

Last year I filled a plastic tub with the concrete-hard horse and sheep shit that I chipped off the barn floor. Added water, and left it to ferment into a brown frothy brew. The tomatoes and peppers loved it, in fact I've never grown peppers so hot before.

westcoast · Post by **westcoast** » 29 Mar 2014, 22:01

well from collecting it and stuffing it in the barrel it went down about 20% by height. I have now topped it off with water(still not clear on how much it should be diluted for use)
Got 3 atv trailers of cow manure today perhaps a bit fresher than would be desired (beggars cant be choosers) what should I keep it away from?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 30 Mar 2014, 09:26

Carpets.

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 30 Mar 2014, 23:02

biffvernon wrote:Carpets.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 01 Apr 2014, 21:21

I heard that the practice of using old carpets to mulch beds over winter is no longer recommended, due to the chemicals used to keep moths away from them.