How to make Homemade Fish Fertilizer? 🐟 🐟 🐟

How to Make Homemade Fish Fertilizer?
🐟 🐟 🐟 In this video I show how to make fish fertilizer at home. Plants love fish fertilizer and they will grow tremendously. The cost of fish fertilizer is around 20 dollars and could be on the rise. This is an easy and cheap way to get organic fertilizer. The equipment that is needed for this project are a 5 gallon bucket, a top, epoxy, a small tube, jar, fish scraps, leaf mold, and rain water. The fish will break down in the 5 gallon bucket over time. In about 2 to 3 months the fertilizer can be used but the fish will still be breaking down. I am going to let the entire fish break down into liquid before I use it. This could take up to a year. I am going to make several buckets of organic fish fertilizer for the vegetable garden. One tip would be to label the date on the bucket to keep up with the amount of time that has past. The idea of using the total fish is awesome. I eat the fish and use the scraps in the garden. Processing my fish scraps into organic fish fertilizer is a game changer. There will be tons of fertilizer available for the garden plants. The fish fertilizer will have several elements and minerals in there that will benefit the plants.

[@robertburns2125]

I have done something similar. I just cut the fish up in thirds, put them in a 5 gallon bucket, add a half of a small jar of molasses and fill the rest with water. Cut a hole in the bucket top and add a screen. In 5 to 6 days, the fish will be completely broken down. Strain it. This creates a concentrate. To apply it, mix two tablespoons per gallon of water and pour it at the base of the plant. Works wonders.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Robert, cool. That sounds great. I will have to try that. Thanks for watching and sharing your info. I appreciate it.

[@audreylong9170]

I've seen brown sugar with molasses used between layers of fish used as well. I like the screen placed in the top design, I'd be concerned about the smell & animals being attracted to it. Thanks for the info....I'll be tryjng it for sure.

[@nikoladoncic3958]

When i was just a boy my grandma told me to go fishing and bring also the small ones home. She dug the small fish in the ground before planting potato on top of em. Gonna try to do my own fish fertilizer this spring from the small ones :)

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hey, burying the fish works great. I do that, too, sometimes. That's great you are going to make your own fertilizer in the spring. Fishing and gardening are my hobbies, love it. Happy New Year.

[@gavinsmitty23]

I save all my fish carcasses from ice fishing which is usually over 200 fish. Burry in Feb-March and by June it’s just scales and bones in my garden. Do the same thing in the fall with salmon. My plants love it. I also macerate deer heads and dump the water in my garden

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY, Gavin!!! That is great, I know your plants love it. I used to do the same thing. It's works for sure.

[@mattvanelli817]

Hell yeah! I learned this from the Garden Like a Viking channel, too! So cool to see someone else doing it, and introducing people into it!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Matt, I agree. I used to bury my fish scraps. This gives me another option, and to have it in a liquid form is great. Thanks for stopping by.

[@saintmaxmedia2423]

Garden Like A Viking fan here as well

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hello Saint Max, Yeah, he is good.

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

Those are some nice looking crappie.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Thanks when the bite slowed down I used my secret weapon, the bubble gum spray.

[@karma8001]

They are huge. Close 2 wall mount here in NE Iowa

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

@@karma8001 It's about time to go get some real big ones now since they will be feeding up for winter!

[@mikevp5303]

From Canada Thanks

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Mike from Canada, you are welcome. I'm went fishing today, and I have more fish scraps to make fertilizer. Thanks for watching.

[@mikevp5303]

I too went fishing and have Jackfish and Walleye scrapes, making fertilizer today.@@GrowSomethingTasty

[@ClausenWorld]

I did this with fish scrapes in the garden and with canned sardines in a gallon jug. I didn’t think to use leaf mold…next time.👍🏽👍🏽 Thank you for the tip. 😊🐟

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

You are welcome ClausenWorld. I was tired of paying for fish fertilizer when I fish all the time.

[@ClausenWorld]

@@GrowSomethingTasty I know that’s right. As soon as I can. I’ll go back to the fish monger and see if they will give me the fish scraps again. The garden loved all that goodness. Thanks for sharing.😊🐟

[@inigomontoya8943]

This is an awesome video man, thank you. As far as the people saying about molasses and sugars; molasses is best because of the micronutrients that come along with it but you can use regular brown sugar or even table sugar in a pinch. I used an old jug of sweet tea with success one time.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hey Oasis Organix, glad you like the video. I need to open that contain but I really don't want to right now. I have been putting that off. Maybe when I open it I will add some molasses. Thanks 👍

[@inigomontoya8943]

@@GrowSomethingTasty it’s interesting as it breaks down it’s not as rank as it used to be. Suprisingly the worst smelling thing I ever brewed was grass clippings lol

[@pixiegirl1730]

I'm working on setting mine up now, just need to find the oldest tree in the oldest forest 😀 Thanks for sharing

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY, Pixiegirl!!! That is great. I like doing projects like this. 😆

[@armandotesta2142]

For those thinking of doing these. Remember that each state has different rules and when it comes to the quantity and size of the fish you can keep. That being said some (usually invasives) like Carp have no restriction on size or quantity. I say those are the best bang for your buck and time. If they are common carp, they are simple to catch (worms, corn, bread, flavored dough balls, mulberries). If they are bighead, silver or grass carp. You will likely need a bow and arrow since they don’t bite on the hook. The upside of carp is that your average carp is 2-5 pounds. Meaning you don’t need to catch as many to achieve the same result. Other than that it was a great video, will definitely try the method out once I have a garden of my own! Thanks for the knowledge!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Armandotesta! Yes, make sure you know the fishing rules. Carps can be huge. I like the idea of using fish scraps to feed my garden. Thanks for the information and for watching.

[@SomeJustice19k]

Easy peasy and those are some nice crappie!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY @SomeJustice19k!!! Yes, it's easy. I'm trying to recover from fishing in a tournament yesterday. That heat is something bad.

[@copybookstudent412]

I really appreciate your videos. I just found your channel and find your posts extremely educational. You also have me thinking about redoing some of my own techniques.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Cool!! I'm glad you think the information is helpful. I hope the videos help.

[@MaYbYl8eR]

Livin the good life i see

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

O yeah crappies all day long.

[@Eathalalonly]

Finally the channel I needed I've subscribed

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO LSav_BBF, thanks for subscribing and leaving a comment. I'm glad you found my channel.

[@kbowlingbowling8660]

I’m thinking I did not put the lid on tight enough….2 month old fish bucket has maggots on the top of liquid… super gross! What can I do to save it?

[@nwetyinwin3788]

Thanks for your informative video!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Nwet Yin Win, I'm glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take Care.

[@evilroyslade2491]

Your video made me feel more confident. The only difference was I had 4 gallons of fish parts in a 13-gallon barrel with a 1-gallon milk jug vent tube. Thanks

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Evilroyslade2491, I'm glad you feel more confident about your setup. Making fish fertilizer is great, especially for plants, and we are using the total fish. I hope your plants love the fertilizer.

Nice vids bro, fishing and harvest the leaf molds in a single spot is a great idea

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Thanks bro!! My fishing partner decided to do the same thing and we pounded those fish yesterday.

@@GrowSomethingTasty Great, fish on bro!

[@supercap3000]

Hey bear i just subscribed, I like your conversational teaching

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Supercap3000, I really appreciate that. Thanks for subscribing, watching, and commenting. Hey, I'm about to drop a video in a few minutes, wait until you see the inside of this melon. I was shocked.

[@alanknight4418]

There is a divice you can get from home brewery and distillation supply that allows the gas to bubble off. Looks like the trap under the sink. Fill it with water and it's that simple. Also if you stay with the jar put insulation around it or a beer cozy and it won't break when frozen.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY Alana!!! Thanks for the information, I will look into it. Is it called an airlock? I heard of it, but I did not look it up. I don't know what it looks like.

[@gumbootmama3]

Thanks !

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY, Gumbootmama!!! You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

[@truthonly7699]

yeah, i just found Garden Like A Viking channel about a month ago, my kind of gardening, feeding the living soil. i gotta get some fish, subscribed, c ya

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO @Truthonly, yeah, I like his channel. The fish fertilizer is good. Yeah, go get some fish. Thanks for watching, subscribing, and leaving a comment. I appreciate it.

[@abbasjabari5313]

From Bandar Abbas , lran thanks

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO abbasjabari5313, you are welcome. I'm about to clean 16 fish right now. What type of fish do you catch? Thanks for stopping by.

[@SusanRogersMakingItWork4Me]

Thank you for making this video, I didn't know how it was made. I may give it a try!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

No problem, go for it. I went fishing today. I might do it again and let it sit for a long time b4 I use it.

[@dreamingcode]

The smell must be outrageous!!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

I got to open it up to change the top but I'm nervous I'm going to fall out. I have been putting it off. The smell is something.

[@daleval2182]

No once fermentation is done it's earthy smell that's left , if still stinks,age longer

[@TH-wp7ye]

@@daleval2182 It takes 3 months for it to start smelling not as putrid but before then it is the most foul smelling thing I have ever smelled in my life. It immediately stinks putridly after 24 hours, I had to open the lid and dump some out because I filled too much of the bucket and the pressure sent the liquid through my airlock. Anyone reading this make sure you get the airlock correct because if you have to open it up before 3 months prepare yourself for the most foul smelling smell it makes me consider if I am some sort of domestic terrorist with a biological weapon lol.

[@RainbowWarriorChris]

So awesome thanks i always burry my fish but i like your method better looks like it will last longer

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hey Chris, this will last a long time. I bury my fish too. Thanks for the comment.

[@randalmoroski1184]

Thank you!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Randal, you are welcome. Anytime!.

[@denyswoodroffe490]

It would be great to have seen the results of your using this fish fertiliser. Kiwi

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Denys, thanks for that suggestion. I will do that. I will write that idea down. This is why I like all the feedback. WOW, I never thought about that.

[@chrisgrubb6147]

Thanks for the tip man

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY Chris, anytime.

[@clickencarabiner12]

Fantastic video good brother...many thanks for your insight and wisdom. We have our halibut in the fermentation process!!!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO @clickencarabiner12, thank you. I appreciate it. It is great that you are making your fertilizer. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@clickencarabiner12]

@@GrowSomethingTasty nice size sac-su-lait “crappie” you made the fertilizer with too, brother. 🎣

[@delphi8788]

I wish there were many people dealing with natural agriculture like this in my country and we had the opportunity to meet... Would it be better if we add lactic acid bacteria to our mixture while preparing fish fertilizer? Thanks for wonderful video.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Burak, thanks for watching. What country are you in? I just use the leaf mold, and I don't know too much about adding lactic acid bacteria.

[@delphi8788]

@@GrowSomethingTasty I live in Turkey. Unfortunately, many of my friends prefer to use ready-made products or chemicals. Thanks for answer:)

[@AlphaQHard]

Those were some nice crappie you caught there!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Kool-Aid Man! Thanks. I might go crazy some next weekend. Do you fish for Crappies?

[@AlphaQHard]

@@GrowSomethingTasty I do when the water is open. Unfortunately everything is iced over in PA. I cant wait to get out there

[@MattyDemello]

Great stuff. I subscribed. Im growing watermelon this season. How long do you wait to use it? Could someone make a full bucket and use it next season for it's first use?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY Matty!!!! Yes, you could use it the next season. The person I got this from said you could use it after 2 months but you will skim the top and place it in water. I rather wait because I don't want to see the decomposing fish.

[@daleval2182]

I add a little molasses black strap unpasteurized, 1 spoon a gallon , adding 11 more beneficial bacteria, good video

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO, Dale, thanks for the tip. I will try that next time. I just cleaned some fish from my fish trip today. Thanks for watching!!!

[@bornfree2237]

You are fermenting, so use an alcohol above 40%/80proof in your bubbler to keep unwanted microorganisms out of the fermentation bucket. Brewers call them airlocks. I also think you're suppose to use a sugar like molasses to keep the bacteria and yeast happy while working on the fish. Great straight forward vid!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hey Born Free thanks, yeah it supposed a homemade airlock I need to switch the top but I'm not brave enough to change the top yet because of the smell. Thanks again I try to keep the videos straight forward.

[@bornfree2237]

@@GrowSomethingTasty Just pour off the water from your glass jar and add the alcohol. You don't have to open the bucket.

[@minyairby1246]

So you’re saying out 40-80% gin in the glass jar instead of water?

[@TH-wp7ye]

Relax there, we aren't culturing microbes in a petri dish. You wouldn't want to use alcohol anyways it would evaporate faster outdoors and this is meant to be anaerobically decomposed over a long period outdoors. Water works just fine with a brewing airlock or this homemade one with a jar of water, any microbes from outside the container that get through the airlock are of no significance as they would not and could not compete with the already established microbes in the leaf mold and in the bucket. KNF doesn't use refined sugars or molasses in their fertilizers and this video appears to be doing the jadam method to make fish fertilizer using purely leaf mold soil and sometimes sea salt.

[@geraldblount4159]

I watch him all the time

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Okay cool, did you try to make the fertilizer?

[@Cinnamon-sugar-toast]

Use a couple bacillus tabs - probiotic in molasses water then add fish

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO Cinnamon, thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it.

[@marykeels5266]

Good job!

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Thanks

[@Ryan-zv6yl]

Great video. The best explanation I have come across. Just curious what's the smell like around the container. I live in a sub division so have to be mindful of odors my property puts off

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hello Ryan, Thanks! I can smell it, especially when it's hot. My neighbors have not said they can smell, but the sealant I used is not great. So I'm making another bucket this weekend. I want to see if I seal it better, will the smell be cut down.

[@TH-wp7ye]

It smells absolutely foul like the most stinky makes you gag uncontrollably if you get a whiff stink. If you do this even with an airlock you should place it 50+ feet from anyone, the airlock doesn't seal off the air from the inside, it lets off little bubbles through the airlock those little bubbles are like little farts that smell horrendous. So even with an airlock there is still going to be some stink escaping from the bucket it is greatly reduced but that putrid stink will come out. After a couple months it does not smell as foul and it gradually smells not as bad but the first month especially it is like a biological weapon.

[@TH-wp7ye]

@@GrowSomethingTasty I got a screw top leaktite lid for 5 gallon buckets and drilled a 1/2 inch hole drillbit in the lid and inserted an airlock for fermenting wines/kimchi. It seals it incredibly well, but I messed up my first bucket and put too much fish and water in. Had to open it and bury the excess, it was easily the worst smelling thing I had smelled in my life.

[@Ryan-zv6yl]

@@TH-wp7ye thank you. Using common since I kinda expected this but was hoping there was somthing I wasn't accounting for thay made it break down without too bad of an odor

[@davidisaacson9328]

Luckily, I had 2-35 gallon empty garbage cans I could put my 2-5 gallon buckets into. The garbage can lids are not sealed well, but it definitely made the smell more tolerable. On a side note...make sure to have liquid fly trap containers around the cans...if you go that route. I had a FlyFest🪰 around those cans! 🐟💨💀☠

[@npm1421]

Can i use Any kind of fish? Will this smell to bad to the neighbors? How to store the fertilizer after done? Can i use with compost? Thank you

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY @npm1421!!! Yes, you can use any kind of fish. I don't know how close your neighbors are to you. My neighbors did not say anything. It will smell some but don't put it right next to the fence if you are worried. I smelled it when I went near it so I put it in the middle of my backyard. I have used it with my compost tea, I just mixed it when I was about to pour it.

[@npm1421]

@@GrowSomethingTasty thanks for reply. Yes I will try this because I got some fish from my niece.

[@rhondah1120]

Hi, I used a handful chicken manure over wide area of my back yard vegetable garden, one year, and I burnt it. Does fish fertilizer have the same type of nitrogen like chicken manure. What is your thoughts on this?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hey Rhonda, I know that chicken manure has the highest nitrogen content. It's good stuff but has too age. I don't have access to it, so I don't use it. I have always heard that you can't burn plants with fish, so I use it. The ratio in fish fertilizer is 5-1-1.

[@rhondah1120]

@@GrowSomethingTasty can you bury oyster shells? I live 35 minutes away from the emerald coast beach….so there is abundance of fish! Can you use saltwater fish in this also? What salt water catfish…..being that there trash fish? And I wonder if red tide would effect it? I thought I saw a couple weeks ago that a few places are being affected by it….what are your thoughts on all of this?

[@chrisgrubb6147]

I ended up putting mine in a igloo drinking bucket I'm hoping I can just squeeze the drink button and get my oz for mixing

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

I hope it works for you. The fertilizer is some good stuff. Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate it. Let me know how works for you.

[@chrisgrubb6147]

Will do

[@chrisgrubb6147]

Can I ask I'm kinda new to growing smoke, just started organic going to try it next year on some plants made the home made fish emulsion, how often can I mix 1 oz to a gallon

[@chrisgrubb6147]

And feed

[@jerrynunnery7147]

HOW LONG BEFORE YOU CAN USE IT ON YOUR PLANTS. ?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO, Jerry, at least 1 to 3 months. The fish and the bones won't fully be broken down, but you can skim off the top. It gets better with age. I would strain it so no fish parts are left around the plant.

[@jimfitzgibbon5492]

How long does it take to brake down ready to use?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY Jim, you can use it after 3 months of it breaking down, but you will have to skim off the top it won't be fully broken down. That's what I did, but I also let a bucket break down for 1 year. I made more than one bucket. I'm going to try 2 years to see if the bones break down.

[@humphreysbrandon17]

How’s the odor holding up using the tube/water method? I poked 4 holes and had tight fitting tubes but after 1 day the smell was so bad I had to quickly seal the minor gaps. Next day smell was 1000x better but still have a small odor within 2 feet of the buckets Wanted to see if others have similar smell or if I didn’t seal properly

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY Brandon, I have a slight smell to it now. I Notice I had opened the hole up a little wider. I have switched the top to fix it but I have not put it back. I need to switch it back but I have put not got the nerve yet to switch it back. I will do it and I'll let you know if I survive it.

[@humphreysbrandon17]

@@GrowSomethingTasty man best of luck…luckily after my 105 degree 1st day debacle and smelling the fish from about 100’ away I got it sealed pretty well and not bad since except when right on top of it. Good luck getting yours fixed. I had actually watched the live like a Viking video before seeing yours so I knew exactly what you were doing and referring to. Hold your nose and don’t eat a large breakfast when you choose to tackle that job. What size crappie did you catch? Saw another comment saying they looked like they could be wall mounts. Wondered if they were 16”+ territory?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

@@humphreysbrandon17 Yeah it's going to be bad that's why I put it off. I'm going to have to plug my nose or something. I'm not looking forward to it. I wish I caught 16 ' crappies but they were 13 and 14 inches. I hope I catch one of those monsters.

[@artddictedby5]

Ok I have a question (may sound silly). Is it ok if I just use the water that I soaked my fishes in? Like in preparation for cooking, I will soak the fishes in a pot of water. So I’ve been wondering if I can use just that.

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hello Arddicted by Fai, it doesn't sound silly. I was always told that chemicals are in the water to keep it safe for us to drink. The treated water may kill a lot of the microorganisms that are needed to break down the fish. When many people make compost tea, they let the water set for 24 hrs before using it.

[@artddictedby5]

@@GrowSomethingTasty ok got it. I may try a smaller volume first and then observe the changes.

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

Do you ever add molasses or sugar to feed the fermentation process?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HEY, I have not but I have seen people do it. This is my first time doing this because I normally bury the fish scraps. Do you use it?

[@karma8001]

I used leaf mold and brown sugar and threw in whole fish. In 2 months with this heat even the bones where desolved. It worked great. I did it because I read that plants also likes brown sugar and are good for them. I did allot also because I use it on 4 acres for my feet plots. He has a video on human urine also. That stuff made my fields explode in growth

[@sevvymokwele5033]

@@karma8001 what can i replace leaf mold with

[@karma8001]

@@sevvymokwele5033 I don't know of anything else. It's easy 2 find but make sure it comes from your area because they are use to your environment

[@karma8001]

@@sevvymokwele5033 the leaf mold didn't speed up the process it just helps put beneficial micro organisms in my soil when I use it

[@geofgradler2766]

Raccoons don't show up and tear everything apart?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

Hey Geof, nope, not one. I hope it stays like that.

[@danielhayes137]

Did you read JADAM?

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

I have seen a youtube video on some of it I have not watched it all. I have to go back a d finish watching it.

[@deliciousrestaurantquality2804]

The emulsion stinks so bad on your hands huh

[@GrowSomethingTasty]

HELLO @deliciousrestaurantquality, it sure does. It took me a long time to get that smell off my hand.