Elements such as potassium and nitrogen can be given to plants in an easily assimilated way by means of an organic liquid feed. The feed can be chosen to be suitable for any deficiency suspected or just as a “tonic” for weak plants. As plants absorb nutrients anyway in liquid form,
the feeds will act quickly when applied to the leaves or roots.

The main method for preparing them is to suspend a nutrient rich solid held in a porous container inside a quantity of water. This is the method preferred for animal manures or compost. You can use a Hessian Sack or bag or even tights or a large sock. Lay a stick across the top of the container and hang the bag from it with strong cord then add water and cover. Stir every few days and it will be ready in a week or two.

The strength of the feed may vary with animal manure being weaker than chicken manure. As a rough guide drain off some fluid and dilute one part with forty parts water.

Weeds such as stinging nettles, or specially grown comfrey leaves, are a rich source of nutrients and good for making a plant based liquid feed. Because they are bulkier than animal products two additional preparation methods can be employed. The simplest is to put the wilted leaves in the bottom of a container and add water and soak for several weeks. The second method needs a vessel with a tap at the bottom. Use the plant material to fill the vessel and then add weights to the top to compress the leaves. After a while a strong liquid will be exuded by the decomposing leaves and you can draw it off via the tap. After dilution this is good for peppers,cucumbers and tomatoes.

Waste vegetable material can be made useful by soaking in water, to both extract nutrients and to kill the roots, for a minimum of four weeks. the liquid makes an organic feed and the solid part an addition to a compost heap

Another free raw element for making liquid feeds is seaweed that has been left on the beach. This is only useful provided it has not been polluted and after all the salt is washed off.

Do not forget that fresh human urine is a source of free nutrients and not harmful to plants if diluted half and half with water.