#7 Using teas to fertilise & grow stronger plants

How agroecology can help you and your garden grow

A series exploring agroecological practises and how they can be utilised in our gardens and plots.

The use of artificial chemicals is one of the main differences between Organic and Regenerative farming.

“Under the Soil Association’s organic standards, all weedkillers are banned, and farmers are only able to use a very limited number of naturally-derived pesticides as a last resort (like citronella and clove oil), but only under very restricted circumstances.

Instead of relying on pesticides, organic farmers aim to create a natural balance between plants and animals to prevent pests.”

Synthetic fertilisers are avoided in Organic farming too.

Keeping soils healthy is at the heart of both Organic and Regenerative farming but in practise, regenerative farming still might use synthetic and toxic chemicals to control pests, kill weeds and feed the soil and plants.

For a long time, as a Gardener and Designer, we (the design and build company I worked for) often sprayed off gardens with glyphosate to make it ‘easier’ to work. I last used it 15 years ago and remember worrying how it could really be safe if it was considered so bad to get on your skin.

I stopped using it and all artificial chemicals once I began to learn more about soils and natural plant growth. It is so obvious to me now that the whole garden or farm system is a holistic whole and every action has a reaction. More on this as we go on in the series, but if using chemicals is so destructive for soils, plants, wildlife and us (we are what we eat eat¹ - I don’t want to eat chemicals) it is an obvious choice not to use them.

It seems to me that the biggest differences between regenerative agricultural practices and certified organic is the use of the plough v. the synthetic sprayer. I know which one I’d rather you used.

I’ll return to a quote,

“The best organic farmers are regenerative, and the best regenerative farmers are organic,” says Harriet Bell, regenerative farming lead at organic veg box company Riverford.

Rather than tell you all the reasons why not to use chemicals (which is a whole post itself) here, I want to inspire you to make your own for even stronger, vibrant and healthier growth which fertilises and prevents pests.²

Teas are rather like those you drink. Think leaves or ingredients steeped in water. Also known as liquid feeds, they make nutrients, minerals and trace elements immediately available to plants and you see the difference as soon as the next day. Perkier, greener, fresher and stronger growth.

For fruiting and flowering plants, mulches are not enough on their own, especially if willing the soils and plants to produce over and over again. Feeds also help boost a plants immunity and strength, making them more resilient, helpful when there are pests early in the season or challenging weather conditions. This is preventative care.

A synthetic fertiliser might look like it works but a liquid tea made yourself is not only free but is far better for both plants and soil.

Three I make every year are - Balanced Compost Tea (for early rooting and establishment), Nettle Tea (for Nitrogen and green growth) and Comfry Tea for Potassium, for fruiting and flowering. For these recipes and how often I apply them, see my Manifesto for growing cut flowers and #7 Making Liquid Teas. There is also a bonus one for Magnesium deficiency.

Like making childhood potions -we knew what we were doing then!

I like to know what I am using in my garden, and what I’m eating, what my skin is exposed to. What wildlife are consuming. Making my own teas (or at least using reputable organic feeds from the Natural Grower or Land Gardeners) gives me confidence and reassurance that there are no nasties coming in.

I don’t tend to worry about pests³. I reckon because the teas and all those other agroecological practises makes plants more resilient to them. More about this in #3 on Wildlife Diversity coming up, but there are some good tea recipes for preventing pests if you do. I’d highly recommend reading the Land Gardeners Soil to Plate for more.

Sprayer with a tea ready to be applied.

1. https://michaelpollan.com/interviews/we-are-what-we-eat/

2. #2 in this top ten series is all about weeds and ground cover, sit tight for that one.

3. All bar flipping slugs - for which I use jam jars of beer sunk around vulnerable plants. As soon as there is fresh tougher growth, the slugs aren’t after the plants.