Tomato plants require more than just water and sunlight to flourish. High-quality fertilisers can significantly enhance fruit size and yield. However, purchasing commercial fertilisers can be expensive, especially when feeding tomato vines every couple of weeks during the growing season. Fortunately, there is a cost-free, natural alternative: brewing organic “weed tea” to nourish your tomatoes.
Ecology enthusiast and founder of Little Eco Footprints, Tricia D. Walker, has shared her recipe for weed tea, a nutrient-rich liquid fertiliser made from common garden weeds. This eco-friendly solution not only provides essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other minerals but also boosts disease and insect resistance in tomato plants.
Ideal Weeds for Tomato Fertiliser
Common weeds such as dandelions, clover, stinging nettles, dock, chickweed, and even leftover grass cuttings are perfect for making weed tea. According to Walker, “Fleshy, deep-rooted weeds like dandelions and dock are especially good because their roots extract valuable nutrients from deep in the soil.” However, gardeners should avoid using toxic or inedible weeds like poison ivy, poison oak, fireweed, or lantana, as these could contaminate the produce.
How to Brew Weed Tea
Gather and Prepare Weeds: Fill a bucket two-thirds full with weeds, packing them down tightly.
Add Water: Top up the bucket with water. If using chlorinated water, let it sit in the sunlight for at least a day to allow chlorine to evaporate.
Submerge Weeds: Place a brick or large stone in the bucket to keep the weeds submerged. Cover the bucket loosely with a lid to allow carbon dioxide to escape during fermentation.
Ferment: Allow the mixture to ferment in a corner of your garden for one to two weeks. The resulting liquid will be a potent fertiliser.
Applying Weed Tea Fertiliser
Strain the Mixture: Pour the fermented liquid through a fabric, such as a piece of cloth or stockings, into a watering can until it resembles a weak black tea or herbal tea. This step removes weed seeds and prevents clogging.
Use Safely: Wear gloves and an apron when handling weed tea, as it can be pungent and its odour may linger even after washing.
Feedback from Gardeners
Many gardeners have praised the effectiveness of weed tea. One user commented, “This is brilliant! So many options, and it’s free!” Another shared, “I made some weed tea a month ago, and it really made a difference in my garden! Although it smells bad, the results are worth it.”
Tips for Managing Odour
If accidentally splashed with weed tea, Diana, a commenter, suggested a simple trick: “If you wash your hands or affected skin by rubbing them on a stainless steel sink or with a stainless steel spoon, some of the smell will neutralise. This works similarly to removing onion odour by neutralising the sulphur compounds.”
By turning garden weeds into a nutrient-rich fertiliser, gardeners can not only save money but also contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly gardening practice.
