Ok, I’m going to come clean. Every good organic gardener has a secret so hidden, that no one would ever know they had it. It may be tucked away in a barrel in a barn, or in a shed, or even a kitchen cabinet. It could even be nestled next to one of your skeletons in the closet. Mine sits in a detached garage. I can divulge that it does not smell good, either. It’s putrid and fishy. Usually the best secrets of this kind don’t smell great. When I learned about this, it completely changed my gardening game. It became a tool I learned to employ at least once per week.
What am I talking about anyway? I’m talking about every gardener’s favorite stinky secret: FERTILIZER! Ok, maybe it’s not a secret, but it’s more fun to pretend like it is. There are a lot of different fertilizers. OG organic gardeners and farmers swear by different recipes that are often similar across the board. Usually there’s fish emulsion which is derived from leftover fish parts. There’s some apple cider vinegar and molasses. Compost tea is included. And they’re mixed together with kelp and other ingredients, and left to ferment for months. Blech! Not appetizing, thinking about that. But plants love certain kinds of rot, don’t they? Organic farmers probably have the space and the materials needed to create their own fermented mess of organic matter that helps plants root more solidly and take off. But this particular fertilizer can do mostly the same thing without as much need for storage and not as much mess.
I have another bit of info to divulge. I am not being paid for this post. Instead, I’m promoting a product that has proven successful in many gardens. I’ve seen it firsthand in my garden, and I’ve consumed product from gardens and farms where this fertilizer is used. I’m talking about Garrett Juice! The makers of this product believe in the formula so much, they’ve included a recipe on their web site. Most home gardeners do not have all the items needed to create their own batch, making it easier for many people to buy it pre-made. And it’s really not that expensive if we compare the cost of a jug (only about $20-30) to the cost of acquiring all the materials needed to make it. It’s available at most big box hardware stores, and probably at your local farm store. Since the formula is diluted, one jug will last a long time. I’ve had mine for about 6 months and haven’t even used half of it. When we’re talking regular use, we’re talking a few ounces per application.
You’re going to need a gallon sprayer and a watering can for the two ways this fertilizer can be applied. I found a sprayer at my local hardware store for about $25. The gallon sprayer assists in foliar application, which can occur once per week. The watering can gives you the option to apply a soil soak. I do that once per month or once every other month. Too much soaking can change the pH of your soil and affect the health of your plants overall. The foliar spray gives your plants what they need to thrive even in harsh hot or cold conditions. You’ll want to apply in the early morning, or as the sun is setting so that your efforts aren’t evaporated away. I promise you that applying this liquid fertilizer to your established plants will change the game and make those plant friends so happy.
For more information, why not visit the Garret Juice web site? Maybe you can make your own stinky secret to stow away for weekly use based on the recipe there. Happy Fertilizing!
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