Dandelion fertilizer: infusion recipes

Dandelion fertilizer is not as well known as vitamin salad from dandelion leaves, however, this does not negate its usefulness – not only fruit garden crops, but also ornamental plants respond well to such potash dressing. In addition, like all weed-based solutions, dandelion fertilizer is an environmentally friendly product that cannot harm either a person or plantings.

What are the properties of dandelion infusion

The benefits of feeding with dandelion are due to the chemical composition of this plant. Its leaves and stems are capable of accumulating the following macro- and microelements in large quantities:

• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• nitrogen;
• iron;
• manganese;
• molybdenum;
• boron, etc.

All these substances, to one degree or another, are involved in the growth, flowering and fruiting of various horticultural crops. There are many ready-made industrial mineral complexes that can be used as plant nutrition, however, they all have a big minus – most of the chemical fertilizers cannot be used during fruit set and intensive fruiting. In this regard, liquid biohumus based on dandelions and other weeds is much better than chemicals, however, the advantages of fertilizer do not end there.

Benefits of application

There are a number of reasons why it is better to replace chemical fertilizers with natural fertilizers whenever possible. Dandelion fertilizer has the following benefits:

1. All nutrients are absorbed by the plant very quickly and in full, which cannot be said about some components of mineral fertilizers. For example, when potassium nitrate is introduced into the soil, nitrogen is washed out quite quickly from the soil.
2. In addition to micro and macro elements, dandelion infusion contains many different microorganisms that participated in fermentation processes. Such top dressing is extremely favorably reflected in the fertility of the soil.
3. Liquid vermicompost is an environmentally friendly fertilizer, absolutely harmless for both plants and humans, if it is applied to the soil in accordance with all the rules. Too concentrated a mixture can damage the roots of plants, but the possible harm ends there.
4. Due to the environmental friendliness of the product, it can be applied to the soil even during the formation of ovaries.
5. The leaves and stems of dandelions contain phytoncides, essential oils and other compounds that have a detrimental effect on many insects, including all types of aphids. Thus, spraying plants with dandelion infusion allows not only to fertilize plantings, but also to carry out preventive treatment against pests. The solution is especially effective in repelling suckers and aphids.
6. Raw materials for infusion are a very affordable material. Dandelions can be found in almost any area.
7. A solution of dandelions lowers the acidity of the soil in the area, so fertilizer can be used as a way to adjust the type of soil.

Separately, it is worth noting that such top dressing is the most practical way to dispose of weeds. It is still burned after weeding or thrown away. Collecting mowed dandelions for fertilizer allows not only to clean the plantings from weeds, but also to get a large amount of vermicompost, moreover, completely free of charge.

What plants can be fed

The following crops respond well to fermented dandelion infusion:

• pepper;
• tomatoes;
• White cabbage;
• cucumbers;
• Strawberry;
• roses.

In general, such a fertilizer benefits almost all garden plants, however, there are a number of exceptions. It is better not to use the solution for feeding the following crops:

• bow;
• garlic;
• beet.

The substances contained in dandelion leaves inhibit the growth of these plants.

How to make dandelion plant food

All parts of the plant are suitable as raw materials for top dressing:

• flowers;
• stems;
• roots;
• leaves.

The main thing is to thoroughly rinse everything and shake off the earth from the roots before proceeding with the preparation of the fertilizer. Prepare the infusion according to the following scheme:

1. Green mass is poured into a basin, bucket or barrel. You can put both whole plants and crushed plants on the bottom. The ratio of raw materials and water should be approximately 1: 2, however, the container cannot be completely filled. There should be at least 3-5 cm from the water level to the lid, since during fermentation a lush foamy cap begins to form on the surface of the infusion.
2. Dandelions are stirred, the solution is covered with a lid and pressed down with oppression.
3. In order for the mixture to breathe, 3-4 holes are made in the lid.
4. In this form, the container with future fertilizer is left in the open sun for 1-2 weeks. In this case, it is better to place the solution away from residential buildings, because over time it begins to smell unpleasant.
5. Approximately once every 4-5 days it is necessary to stir the infusion.
6. When the fertilizer is ready, it is filtered. Cake is no longer required, the liquid is later used to feed plants.

You can increase the efficiency of fertilizers with the help of a concentrated solution of the Gumat-Baikal preparation. The recommended proportions of the solution are 30 g per 100 liters of water. A small amount of such a stimulating additive can greatly enhance the biological activity of the infusion. First, it will be easier for plants to absorb nutrients. Secondly, humates neutralize heavy metals and pesticides.

There are other options for fertilizer from dandelions:

1. With the addition of urea or other nitrogen fertilizer. 50-100 g of the substance is poured into the solution in order to speed up the fermentation processes.
2. Infusion for spraying with laundry soap. 2 tbsp. dandelion shoots pour 10 liters of boiling water and insist for 2 hours. After that, 1/3 of a bar of laundry soap is added to the solution. This top dressing is used for spraying plants before flowering.
3. Nourishing dandelion infusion for spraying. About 1-2 kg of plant roots and shoots must be poured into 10 liters of water. Such a solution is insisted for 2 weeks, decanted and, without additional dilution with water, is introduced into the soil.

Advice! Top dressing-insecticide is made from the roots and leaves of dandelion. To do this, you need to take 300 g of raw materials and pour all this into 10 liters of water. After 2 hours, you can spray the plantings.

How to prepare dandelion dressing in combination with other herbs

Dandelions can be effectively combined with a variety of other weeds. Good fertilizer is obtained by combining the original raw materials with the following herbs:

• sagebrush;
• comfrey;
• yarrow;
• chamomile;
• a shepherd’s purse;
• coltsfoot;
• nettle;
• valerian;
• calendula;
• mint;
• bindweed.

In addition, stepchildren of tomatoes and overgrown green crops can be added to the fertilizer: spinach, mustard leaf, lettuce.

In combination with other herbs, the infusion is done as follows:

1. All plants are plucked before they form seeds.
2. Raw materials must be crushed and dried.
3. Then the green mass is poured with water for 1/8 of the total volume of the container.
4. At the end, you can add a diluted solution of humate (1 tsp of the drug per 10 liters of water) or wood ash (10 g per 10 liters of water).
5. After that, the barrel, bucket, tank or other container is tightly closed with a lid. The solution will be ready in 5-8 days.

How to determine the readiness of the solution

The readiness of the potash solution from dandelions is calculated not only by time – sometimes the weed is infused longer than indicated in the recipe, or even ahead of all cooking times. Insufficiently infused fertilizer, or, conversely, standing in the sun, is not very suitable as a full-fledged top dressing.

Of great importance are the color of the solution, its smell and fermentation processes. If the fertilizer is insisted according to the rule, taking into account all the recommendations, then after 2-3 days the solution begins to ferment. Its color becomes dirty green, the grassy mass bubbles strongly. Finally, an extremely unpleasant smell of fresh cow dung begins to emanate from the fertilizer.

5-7 days after filling with water, fertilizer can be applied to open ground.

How to apply

The resulting infusion of dandelions is not recommended to be used in its pure form, as it is too concentrated. Usually it is diluted in a ratio of 1:10, and it is desirable to use warm, sun-settled water. If this is not done, the fertilizer will most likely burn the roots of the plants.

An infusion of dandelions is applied to the soil under the root or sprayed with leaves of horticultural crops. In the second case, it is better to feed early in the morning or in the evening, when there is no scorching sun. In general, fertilizer is better absorbed if the plants are fed after heavy watering or rain.

Top dressing is carried out 1 time in 3 weeks, in the period before flowering. When fruits begin to set, the frequency of fertilization is reduced to 1 time in 2 weeks.

The features of the use of dandelion infusion should also include the rules for its storage. The most important thing is that you do not need to prepare fertilizer with a margin. They insist exactly as much as is spent on planting. This is explained by the fact that the solution very quickly loses its useful properties, especially if you leave it in an open container in the sun. The maximum shelf life of dandelion fertilizer is 4-5 days, and then only on condition that the tank or bucket is removed to a dark, cool place and tightly closed.

Conclusion

Dandelion fertilizer can compete with many ready-made chemical products for plant nutrition. It is available, cheap and, most importantly, is an environmentally friendly solution. In combination with concentrated humates, dandelion fertilizer completely makes it unprofitable to use chemicals on the site – you can safely refuse it.

The only drawback of the potash solution is the lower intensity of exposure. Dandelion top dressings are somewhat weaker than industrial mineral mixtures, so you will have to fertilize more often to get a lasting result.

You can learn more about dandelion fertilizer from the video below: