How To Make Your Own Fertilizer At Home
The government recently released a study showing that backyard gardens are worse for the environment than large farming operations. I do not believe this for one bit. Yes, many small gardeners who are new to the craft use expensive fertilizers, plastic seed trays, and other nonsustainable practices. We can make changes and teach others to do the same. One such change is making your own fertilizer for a sustainable eco-friendly option that often doesn’t cost you anything.
Making your own fertilizer is a great way to ensure your plants are getting the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. When you make your own fertilizer you don’t have to worry about the effects of the shortages that have been hitting over the past few years.
We’ll walk you through the steps of making your own fertilizer using organic materials such as compost, manure, and kitchen scraps.
Why should you make your own fertilizer?
There are several reasons why you should consider making your own fertilizer:
It’s cost-effective: Making your own fertilizer using organic materials such as compost, manure, and kitchen scraps can be much more cost-effective than purchasing commercial fertilizers.
It’s eco-friendly: By using organic materials, you’re creating a fertilizer that’s much more eco-friendly than synthetic fertilizers, which can have harmful effects on the environment.
It’s customized to your needs: By making your own fertilizer, you can tailor it to the specific needs of your plants. For example, if your plants need more nitrogen, you can add more nitrogen-rich materials to your fertilizer.
It’s a great way to reduce waste: By using kitchen scraps and other organic materials to make your fertilizer, you’re reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills. This is by far one of the best options besides getting chickens to reduce food waste.
Overall, making your own fertilizer is a great way to save money, reduce waste, and create a more sustainable garden.
Easy fertilizer recipe.
Materials Needed
- Compost
- Manure
- Kitchen scraps (fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds)
- Water
- Large container or bin with lid
- Optional: bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, kelp meal
Step-by-Step Guide
Start by gathering your materials. You’ll need a container or bin with a lid to hold your fertilizer, as well as compost, manure, and kitchen scraps.
Mix together equal parts of compost and manure in your container. This will be the base of your fertilizer.
Add your kitchen scraps to the container. These can include fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds.
If desired, add additional organic materials such as bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, or kelp meal to the mixture. These will provide additional nutrients to your plants.
Stir the mixture well to combine all of the ingredients.
Add enough water to the mixture to make it moist but not too wet. You want the mixture to be damp, but not waterlogged.
Cover the container with a lid and place it in a warm, dark location such as a garage or closet.
Stir the mixture every few days to keep it aerated and prevent any unpleasant odors from forming.
After several weeks, your fertilizer should be ready to use. It should be dark and crumbly, with a sweet, earthy smell.
Use the fertilizer by mixing it into the soil around your plants. Use a ratio of about one part fertilizer to two parts soil.
Banana peel fertilizer
If you have a lot of banana peels from things like processing bananas in bulk you can soak these peels in water for a few weeks and then pour the water into your garden for a high-potassium fertilizer.
Many gardeners do this all season long. I on the other hand am a bit of a lazy gardener. I will place cut-up banana peels directly under plants in my garden. I find that plants that have been attacked by leaf miners hold up much better when offered banana peels.
Animal manure fertilizers you can raise at home
I personally love to raise small livestock in our urban backyard. The manure collected from our chickens and quail composts down into amazing fertilizer. This year we are discussing adding meat rabbits to our little urban homestead. These would provide our family with meat to help lower costs, live mostly off of food grown in our own backyard, and clearance boxed from our favorite produce market.
For animals that eat meat like chickens, you need to compost down the manure before using it in your garden as it can burn your plants if you use too much that is too fresh.
For rabbits, you can dump your poop collection trays right into your garden with no issue. While we intend to raise our rabbits in a colony style giving them access to a fun run for most of the day the rest of the time they will be in hutches with an easy-to-clean tarp (upcycled feed bags) on the bottom of the nesting area and wire mesh falling into a poop tray in the main part of the cages.
How often should I use my homemade fertilizer?
It’s best to use your homemade fertilizer once a month during the growing season. You can use it less frequently during the off-season or if your plants don’t seem to need as much nutrition.
Can I use only kitchen scraps to make my fertilizer?
While kitchen scraps are a great addition to your fertilizer, they may not provide all of the nutrients your plants need. It’s best to mix in a variety of organic materials such as compost and manure to create a well-rounded fertilizer.
Can I use my homemade fertilizer on all types of plants?
Yes, you can use your homemade fertilizer on all types of plants, including vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Making your own fertilizer is a simple and effective way to give your plants the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. By using organic materials such as compost, manure, and kitchen scraps, you can create a fertilizer that’s both eco-friendly and cost-effective. Follow the steps outlined in this guide and you’ll be well on your way to creating your own homemade fertilizer.
