How to Make Liquid Fertilizer

If you are tired of the hassles of carrying around bags of commercial fertilizer and never know for sure if you are using too much, then creating your own liquid fertilizer is for you. No more guessing how much to use or worrying about burning tender roots. This liquid fertilizer is easy to apply, doesn't require the labor of mixing it into the soil, and can be applied anywhere at any time even to those hard to reach plants you can't quite get to with commercial fertilizers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blender
• Household Ammonia
• Epsom Salt
• Vegetable Scraps
• Large bucket with lid

1. Save all cooked or raw vegetable scraps from meal preparation. This includes potato peelings, apple peelings, pea pods, or any other parts you would ordinarily discard. Even the water used to cook vegetables in is a good source of nutrients for your garden.

2. Place the scraps in an ordinary household blender and emulsify. If scraps are dry, add enough water to assist the blender in creating a smooth puree.

3. Pour the vegetable scrap puree into a large plastic bucket. Add 1 capful of ammonia and 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt per quart of puree and mix thoroughly with a large wooden spoon.

4. Seal the container and let set at room temperature overnight or until you have enough compost to create liquid fertilizer for your garden. Each quart of mulched veggies will make one gallon of liquid fertilizer.

5. Prepare liquid fertilizer for the garden. Simply mix one quart of pureed vegetables to one gallon of warm water. Shake to mix well.

6. Pour liquid fertilizer directly on the soil around plants in the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Using liquid fertilizer on a daily basis will prevent the bucket of vegetable scraps from developing an odor.
• Use cooking liquids to help emulsify foods in the blender or as a substitute for warm water when mixing the pureed veggies before applying to your garden.
• Do not use vegetable scraps that have been fried or that have fats added.