Herbal Teas
Herbal teas for the garden
You will find that these are really beneficial and are cheap and simple to make, improving the health and vigour of your crops.
Herbs such as nettle, nasturtium, dandelion, sage, chamomile, hypericum, yarrow and valerian are just some of the many beneficial infusions that you can prepare for use in the garden.
Teas are a good way to transfer essences of one plant to another. Harvest the herbs early in the morning, just before they have reached their flowering stage. This way the beneficial properties are at their peak. Use the fresh leaves, or dry them out of direct sunlight and store in paper bags until needed.
When you are ready to make the tea, cover the leaves with water and gently heat. Remove the pot from the stove immediately the brew begins to boil and allow to cool thoroughly. You can use the tea directly on your plants, or you may prefer to dilute it with 3 parts of water. Do not store the infusion because, after preparation, the beneficial properties will not last indefinitely. Apply the tea with a watering can or alternatively, spray the filtered tea directly onto the plant foliage and stems during the cool of the evening or early morning.
Some favourite garden teas
CHAMOMILE TEA: can be applied to the roots
of flowers, trees, shrubs and vegetables when
planting out.
DANDELION TEA: is a stimulant to plant growth.
It also contributes to the breakdown of compost. Try watering in seedlings using dandelion tea, as you plant them. You may also add this beneficial tea directly to the compost heap. Fresh dandelion leaves (not the roots) in the compost will help to speed decomposition.
MANURE TEA: soak a loose weave sack containing horse, chicken or cow manure in a large bucket or
44 gallon drum. Leave for several weeks and use when required, diluted with water to the colour of weak tea. Apply using a watering can.
NASTURTIUM TEA: a dilute extract, or tea, made from nasturtium can be sprayed onto tomato and vine crops to boost their vigour.
NETTLE TEA: is rich in iron. Spray nettle tea onto plants to strengthen them. Try growing basil and tomato plants together and watering with nettle tea for best results.
SAGE TEA: is an effective growth stimulant for seedlings and established plants.
WORM TEA: If you have a worm farm, pour the occasional bucket of water over it and collect the residue, as it will be rich in minerals. The worm tea can be used either diluted, or at full strength when planting out seedlings.
