Amazing Way to Use NETTLES to Improve Seedling Success

This video shows you an easy way to extract the goodness from nettles so we can make the most of their amazing qualities to help us with growing healthier plants and simultaneously improving soil health. You will learn how to make something called a Fermented Plant Juice (or FPJ in short) that is a method developed from Korean Natural Farming to help get better yields using local and 100% natural materials. It was great to get Nigel Palmer on to tell us more about this and you can find out about his workshop here: www.nigel-palmer.com/workshop
The great thing about Korean Natural Farming is that the whole goal is to use local resources to make mineral and biological amendments that not only improve results in the garden, but are kind to nature and helps close the waste gap in our modern culture. This easy recipe is a great way to cut costs, have fun and be one extra gardening tool under your belt. I feel that using things like this in conjunction with no dig allows us to enjoy greater potential from our growing spaces.
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Introduction 0:00
What is a FPJ? 0:57
FPJ Benefits 3:55
Why nettles? 7:03
Making Nettle FPJ 8:13
Use 1 (Soaking) 14:00
Use 2 (Drench) 16:41
Use 3 (Foliar) 18:34
Nigel's Workshop 20:54
#koreannaturalfarming #regenerative #vegetablegardening

[@HuwRichards]

Hope you enjoyed this in-depth guide on using nettles to grow healthier and more resilient crops. This is the type of things I love about gardening, the ability to make the most of what nature provides us and to bring in all kinds of different techqniues and also space for experimentation too. A huge thank you to Nigel for joining once again. Since the video I did featuring his book I have had a huge number of you telling me how useful it has been. If you would like to find out more about Nigel's workshop, here is the link: www.nigel-palmer.com/workshop 😀🌱

[@shaunaburton7136]

This looks possible! Thanks!

[@lleestimer2547]

Thank you so much for teaching in a way that, even though we have little experience in the garden, we can apply the things you show us!! Hoping everyone has a successful and enjoyable gardening season.

[@thelittlelearningfarm622]

I am seriously looking at taking this workshop. This is the kind of information I need to share and teach others. Thank you!

[@alb5346]

Can I just use normal white sugar? Thats all I have for the moment!

[@Luna-rr2us]

@@alb5346 the Process is the same. Sure yo u can

[@SaintCoemgen]

I have been using fermented nettles for years. And I also make spring nettles into a tasty pesto. But I most appreciate you, unlike so many KZbinrs, not pretending you invented the method, but bringing in an expert to add to the conversation. Well done. I approve.

[@diannevaldez8670]

I was wondering if you can use molasses alone without the sugar in this recipe?

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

@@diannevaldez8670 I was wondering the same thing....I don’t have organic brown sugar on hand so I thought I would use organic sugar and molasses, basically the same thing.

[@craigschaaf2529]

I’m afraid it’s not the same thing. You have to have a dry sugar for the osmotic pressure to work. I use organic cane sugar.

[@diannevaldez8670]

@@craigschaaf2529 Hello Craig, thank you so much for the reply and the information. I was wondering why you would need the sugar but then I thought about kombucha and how the Scoby needs sugar and maybe this would be similar. Thank you for clearing this up for me.

[@SaintCoemgen]

@@diannevaldez8670 I never add sugar, or molasses. The fermentation happens naturally. I am not making wine or beer. I am making a composted fermentation slurry. Much as most farms do with waste animal products, or the plastic wrapped bundles you see in a field (the plastic aids in fermenting the grasses inside). So entirely different processes.

[@alienjulie]

I am Korean who’s been living in Canada for over 20 years. I still make fermented juice/food with veggies and fruits. Cannot live without them. I use them for cookings and teas. Great tastes and super healthy. 1:1 ratio. Your choice of fruit/veggie to equal amount of sugar/honey. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for making them.

[@ajb.822]

Interesting... I've only known about using salt to ferment, with small exception of some exposure to a recipe or 2 for a sugar/fruit ferment last year. So, you do some veggies too, with sugar ? Thanks !

[@jsmith3980]

Great to see the Eastern practice of natural farming being put into practice.Thank you Huw. The main modern proponent of it is Cho Han-kyu[ Korean] who was arrested many times for his methods.He posed a threat to the money men in modern agriculture.

[@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006]

....arrested for being an innovator?! 😰 I knew there was corruption in SK but I didn't think that it would be THAT bad!

[@jsmith3980]

@@weneedmoreconsideratepeopl4006 It happened many years ago and I don't know anything about SK politics these days. Cho Han-Kyu's son [ Youngsang Cho] is a farmer whose methods are JADAM-Low cost agriculture.

[@witcherwoo8938]

Fascinating but disturbing info J.Smith....I'm fed up of being at the mercy of the supermarket for my produce, so thought I would give it a go myself...with mega help from my knowledgeable gardener hubby.....so we will see! 😊

[@jsmith3980]

@@witcherwoo8938 Check out his son's book...JADAM ORGANIC FARMING by Youngsang Cho.

[@billyandrew]

Anyone using non gmo seeds and employing 'unapproved' methods poses a threat to big Agg and big Pharma. Monsanto, prior to merging with Baer, was taking a farmer to court every _seventeen minutes_ on average! So glad we have 'seed markets' and _'Seed Sunday'_ in the UK, where we barter seeds, as selling non approved seeds is illegal here, yet many are unaware and astonished, upon learning such a law was passed, thanks to the politicians private owned by the moneymen.

[@wildscotland9506]

Very easy to do, great video. But a MASSIVE bonus for me is I put the nettle plug on the compost and it's irresistable to slugs and snails! I go out each morning and get around a dozen each time. Add this to your anti-slug/snail tips!

[@tomwoodland1]

Will you be running side by side trials to test this method? Would be great to see

[@billyandrew]

I hope someone does, as do at least fifty-four others, who, like me, have given your question a thumbs up.

[@dancingram79]

I live in Sweden, now the stinging nettles are starting to grow. I'm not a gardener, but I really want to get good at it. I have a balcony and very little morning sun. So I have to grow in pots or containers. So today, I went to pick my nettles and made this plant juice. It smelled very pleasant. I can't. Wait to use it on my plants. Thank you for this treasure of information. 👑

[@janicejurgensen2122]

Finally I have 2 gardeners that can help me garden my way! Can’t wait to receive my book! Thank you both!

[@annrenee3265]

I love the way you put timings for different sections in the description Huw. Another great video ~ thank you.. Brilliant

[@user-yh9uy8zi8c]

This is only really my first/second year of trying to grow lots of different veg and its great to hear about these things early on! I've been doing lots of permaculture research etc. but this makes the whole picture way more varied and fascinating:) love your channel thank you!! xx

[@KristinGasser]

That’s so amazing... as a total garden-newcomer this year, I‘m learning so many great things from you and other youtubers. Tomorrow morning I gonna harvet those nettles and start fermentating! Thank you!

[@harrowbiodiversity594]

I'm a week into my fermentation! Smells amazing. Excited to start feeding my plants and maybe soaking seeds too!

[@1Lightdancer]

I made some FPJ using nettles last year, and am excited to make more. Some nettles are already coming up - need to gather some for the cook pot! Thank you for all your wonderful garden tips and guests!

[@TheSunRiseKid]

What an EXCELLENT video!! Thanks to both of you!🙂🌱

[@MalinaImport]

i love it when you give me a very warm welcome back in the garden :D makes me feel very cozy

[@jamesengland2772]

Best gardening show . Congratulations Hue. Grew on allotments with my grandad and my dad but me and my dad watch your videos . Bought your books and Charles Dowding and now going to order Nigel Palmer's book . Thank you. Well done and God Bless you.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

What an interesting and uplifting video. Thanks Huw. Goodbye smelly tubs with stinging nettles , hello sweet and sugary smelling extracts.

[@LaVikinga108]

Wow, this is so exciting! I'm very tempted to sign up for Nigel's class! Thanks Hugh for sharing this!

[@Bearwoman11]

Nettle grows wild in my yard. Thank you for the information! Native Americans uses Stinging Nettle tea to help those that are recovering from COVID 19.

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

Fabulous🥳💝...why am I not surprised 🤣. Mother Nature...she is a good'in. 💝

[@pedrosgarden]

Thank you for this video, Huw! Not only for this idea in particular, but for the philosophy behind it as well! Here in Portugal we have a long, long tradition of using nettles in the garden, watering the garden with nettle juice. You can know on anyone's door and they'll always tell you they use it and the great results they get.

[@xondominique2602]

how do you prepare the nettle juice? as described in this video or some other method? i'm wondering if i can squeeze the leaves to extract the liquid and then just dilute it with water?

[@DaNaiAsha]

Getting his book! Thanks Huw! Your channel is fantastic! Keep going!

[@ineedstuff8286]

this is fascinating... THANK YOU Nigel and Huw!!

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

Huw do you have a list of other plants you can use that are full spectrum like nettle is ? Thanks. Love your style, thoroughness and over all presentation in your videos. Good job.

[@junewilliams2149]

Thank you for getting Nigel on your channel Huw- didn't know about his courses, llttle bit late for this one. So busy on the allotment I am not getting around to watching the vids :( I bought Nigel's book when it came out - absolutely fascinating stuff. I started doing some of the carrot and parsnip teas using forest leaf mould last autumn.

[@ibotenic6324]

This is incredible. I use a lot of compost tea and it looks like this is the next step. Going to get my hands on Nigel's book now.

[@stacyk.3402]

Thank you Huw for the follow up to recommending the book. I bought the book but being a visual person these are great videos!

[@lydia9900]

SO SO interesting. Thanks Hue & Nigel 👏🏻

[@artbyashley6613]

More Nigel 😍 yay for more bubbling buckets.

[@paolavais5025]

Just in time! I was going to pick the nettles soak them in the bucket - and also timely as I've been waiting a week for Nigel's book to arrive - Thank you @Huw

[@raymondilokapileo2186]

Boy am I blessed to have met (informally) you Mr. Huw Richards. Thank you for sharing n God bless you oways 🙏❤😇

[@phyrewillow6463]

Excellent info! Thank you both!!!

[@quantafitness6088]

Thank you for all the interesting and useful videos you make. If you like the nettle ferment, you should have a look at bokashi. It is a japanese method originally for fermenting food scaps. After the ferment, you mix it with soil for quick composting. You can go from food scrap to nutritious soil in four weeks!

[@evaalt-revie1656]

Thank you, I will definitely making this tonic .

[@NapoleonGARDENINGTV]

Very helpful video! I have been using stinging nettle tea in our plants, but not fermenting it. It is already very effective. I will also try to ferment it next time. Thanks a lot. It is a big help for us, gardeners!

[@HuwRichards]

It's my absolute pleasure! Hope you have fun doing it all and best of luck :D

[@tiarianamanna973]

I LOVE nettles in every way.. 😁 and korean natural farming methods have always given good results whenever i ve tried any of those 🤗 wonderful info, thank you 😄

[@isabelmorais9430]

Thank you Hue! I’m starting now growing veggies in my veranda and I’m learning a lot from you! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@dugchris2009]

Thanks, great information! I always pick nettle and dry it for tea and add to soups for more nutrition.

[@samvimes1482]

Excellent idea and video, I have just prepared my first jar of nettles and can't wait to see if I have done it right. The nettles didn't really mix very well with the sugar and I do hope it all works out. Thank you for all the information, it is really helpful.

[@Sinju88]

We have nettles growing everywhere. I even boil it to feed my dog, knowing it’s unbelievable nutrient contents. Now I find a amazing use from you & Nigel. Thks. Can’t wait to try!

[@1Lightdancer]

Nettles have so many uses! I gathered a tall one from my patch for Twine (bast fiber in the stem) harvested the planes from the tips to eat, from the middle section to dry for tea, and used the biggest leaves for a batch of FPJ!

[@purnimabhatt5355]

Bless you to bring all the imp info.🙏🙏🙏

[@LVSpeedweLL]

Thank you both so much, Nigel’s book is Fantastic, highly recommend ! So much exploration and note taking and sharing is ahead for all us gardeners who choose to go forward working 🌱with Nature 🐝 As sourcing outside materials may become more of an issue -supply/delivery/etc- accessible ingredients right in our yards = true nourishment and life. 🙏🏼

[@LauraBernsvanUnen]

Just made this. Hopefully I did it right and have some nice food for the plants. Thank you so much for all the inspiring lessons 🙏🙏🙏

[@BluDawg]

This is just happily amazing to me , just moved to a property with loads of nettles. Made tea for me , gave me loads of energy , now going to make this for all the plants, Thank You Both ; -)

[@Gabi-lt4mx]

dry the seeds and eat them over the winter. great stuff and tasks a little bit like nuts. it's aalso healthy

[@fergusdangerfield156]

Thank you gents, very informative and useful video x.

[@user-on5bu7xp3u]

FANASTIC video i currently have nettles growing in my back yard looking forward to pulling them up and applying this method

[@colmangreen6029]

Very valuable information, thank you

[@rambukah76]

I loved this video and I started reading Nigel’s book👌🏻

[@gladysgreen2]

This was really inspiring, thank you!

[@hilarywarner7962]

I only just found this video. Thank you so much really inspiring, practical etc.

[@lynnrushton7458]

That was great! Really interesting.....thank you both!

[@Lauradicus]

I’m all for regenerative methods but I do have to point out one thing. Seeds contain exactly the right amount of nutrition for it to germinate. Exactly. Nutritional needs begin once the seed has germinated, produced a working root and working leaves. It is at that point that providing extra nutrition becomes appropriate. Soaking seeds in water provides a single missing element: water. It may seem like I am splitting hairs but I think this basic fundamental principle is important: Keeping things simple and appropriate is something we all need to practice if we are to consider ourselves responsible.

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

I understand...its a bit like King Canute defying the tide. Nothing is going to stop those little miracles from emerging if given warmth, moisture, love and food...just as all living things require. 🥳💝🌞

[@HuwRichards]

Hi Laura, Nigel at the end of descirbing the seed soak made it quite clear it was experimental. I for one don't soak seeds and can't be bothered to, as long as the ground it's in has moisture it's all good :)

[@Aglaja_]

Another theory is to kind of imprint yourself to the seed - by putting in into your mouth and let it soak, putting out one by one to plant it. So the plants are getting information about you, their caretaker.

[@evajenei845]

Kendra Im not so sure if the books of Anastasia are really based on facts 🤷‍♀️

[@Foosterish]

@@HuwRichards An advantage of soaking seed is that you find out which is viable. This year I had two packets of parsnip, both still in date. One gave 95% germination and the other zero.

[@niallgardens]

This was genuinely fascinating. I’m new to the world of amendments, and if I’m honest, homemade fertilisers also like comfrey, etc… but starting to research it. Thankfully we have a bountiful stock of nettles here in the garden! 😂 I’m going to try this for sure, and will be interested to see if I have success with it. Thanks Huw - awesome video!

[@susangichuhi]

Amazing, very informative content. I watched to the end. Thanks.

[@pamalajjohnson9576]

I've been doing this put on sweet corn last year never had so much beautiful corn, this differently works also used dandelions . Well continue doing this .

[@deanablythe9394]

Wow 😮I am impressed with the content of this video, it doesn’t really surprise me and great to get the recipe and methods. Thank you very much for sharing ❤

[@richardmorgan607]

I learned so much from this thankyou both.

[@raine5534]

really interesting, not heard of this before so really useful. Thankyou.

[@FEZKARA]

Thank you 🙏 for the in-depth clear precise information on this important topic. 👌👍. Love watching yr videos Huw. 🤗

[@yentindall]

Thank you! I made it this morning. It smells good. It’s so much better than nettles in water.

[@janicejurgensen2122]

I’m so excited to do this! I’ll let you know how it goes. Love this

[@Jim-iw1yd]

Super stuff thank you. Picked up my nettles this morning , though not so early, need to get up earlier next. Going to make it up after lunch. Thanks again for such an informative and to the point video.

[@Fitiaosana]

Wow. I just made some fermented juice for the first time. So good… thanks for this 👍🏾👍🏾

[@ohiogardener4019]

An excellent tutorial! We don't have nettle growing wild around us, but I have done this with the Comfrey I grow and have had excellent results. I have also made Comfrey Tea that I use to drench the soil, but like you say, the smell is repulsive to say the least. This tutorial should get more gardeners using this easy to make stimulant.

[@WanieB]

Fantastic!!! I can put weeds to good use, great use for them. Extract the goodness then add the material to the compost heap without fear of spreading weed seeds. 🤩 Brilliant!! Thank you so much for this video, implementation will be very soon. 🙋🤸

[@LindaPenney]

Thank you for sharing Huw lovely update my friend

[@helentc]

Very interesting Thank you. I think I might use Comfrey with this method for seedlings. Comfrey has amazing cell proliferation qualities for humans and plants alike. For starting plants off or supporting struggling plants this seems a good way to go. I love Nettle and it's amazing Nutrients too, but I have Comfrey abundantly available. Love using what's available instead of relying on store bought stuff.

[@betsyhaynes4710]

Fabulous idea!!❤I am doing it!

[@patricianathan4676]

Thank you so much, I enjoyed this so much. I am a mature person about to move where there’s a big well established garden. So having done, no dig and natural gardening it’s so good to admit, your never too old to learn and the fermented plant liquid will be so much better to make than the bucket/water and plant material, that stinky stuff.!! WCL

[@emilvaleriev4570]

Amazing video! Thanks Huw for make it happened!:)))

[@RebeccaFreear]

A jar of nettles cosily fermenting in my kitchen now! So excited 💚🌿

[@blancaestelarivera3711]

😃Buenos días! Mi abrazo para tí desde México!

[@lemonielala3080]

This is really interesting, have to try it! I usually use inexpensive ikea french press coffee pots for fermenting chillies for sauces because the sieve press thing keeps the chillies under the salt water so they don't go moldy, I imagine this would work in those pots too, have to buy one for the purpose!

[@markzambelli]

@Lemonie Lala OMG... I do a ton of fermenting and that coffee press idea sounds genius, I'll have to give it a try🌶

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

What a very interesting and useful video. Thanks very much.

[@HuwRichards]

You are welcome! :)

[@katharinavonborcke4144]

This is great! Thank you so much

[@dc1544]

I ordered the book. thank you. I do make ferments already usually for mead and such. I have made ferments for plants before and will be nice to see how he does it.

[@bertibear1300]

Great information ,thanks.

[@chrisblack5795]

Thank you! Will be doing this in a few minutes! I was making compost tea...thats good stuff too.

[@paul-oram]

Sold. Just ordered the book.

[@mariagibbons8437]

Incredible information! I will try to sign for workshop with or without my husband. The thing is I am hard of hearing, so I do appreciate it when there are subtitles. But I will relisten to this video with my husband. ‘Fingers crossed’ he might come...

[@niniann]

Google has an app called Live Transcribe, which I put on my phone. I find it to be reasonably good at captioning and have used it for videos and in zoom meetings when people are mumbling away from their mics.

[@joeykoehn6038]

Are you watching on a phone? When I tap on my phone screen, a little box saying CC pops up. Tap that box, and captions appear.

[@LukeDeSciscio]

Great content brother, thank you so much

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

Having used Nettles and Comfrey for many years...I have never added water until after fermentation/ watering time. I do like the idea of adding sugar though, knowing its hygroscopic qualities very well, I never thought to add it to the dry mix of fresh leaves. Genius🥳 Thanks Hugh. x

[@projectmalus]

Thanks, nice bit of nuance to keep leaves dryer by spraying in morning, to avoid disease.

[@lulielawry]

i haver big barrels around my yard that i add horse manure and will add weeds too, its my plant tea.... so im glad its got lots of fans around!

[@seanwaters8886]

Thank you Huw! Varooom!

[@guerillagardner3876]

FAB U LOUS!! Thank you for sharing!

[@HuwRichards]

You are so welcome and thank you for watching and commenting! :)

[@RolandObermeier]

Love it. We use Nettles since years but never tried to ferment them. Question, will this complement the training of Bonsai Trees?

[@vickiotmani]

Cannot thank you ENOUGH for this incredible information Huw! Been wanting to try Bokashi/Ferments for so long but have been intimidated. As always, you make us better gardeners with every video. Thank you!

[@dannyvardanian]

excellent thank you for this!

[@noranneduffy]

Thank you, lm swamped with nettles, docks and cleavers. Fun begins

[@dianamccoy6308]

11 Q

[@smithy4121]

Thank you for this video I am very excited about this. Its so simple and so inexpensive and it looks like it won't be stinky and takes up very little room. I wonder if this would work with comfrey as well?

[@Juice4Y0U]

Great video! Good food for thought. I notice I'm always a bit sceptic about practices that make gardening more complex, but I'm very curious to know more about the science behind it. What does it do for the plants on a molecular level/why is it better than how plants in nature get their nutrients. I might just buy his book ^^

[@tommole4634]

Love the ideas great block

[@meehan302]

Most useful information How. I didn't hear about adding brown sugar before. Thanks again for sharing the Knowledge.

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much Patrick I really appreciate it😊

[@trumpetingangel]

Two people I have learned so much from in the last year!

[@smithpianoservicing3421]

Amazing information

[@annegould7506]

Wow- absolutely brilliant - thank you Huw for organising this- another avenue to explore and integrate into my practice!

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Excellent video Huw Richards and I need to get nettle seeds because there's none on the allotment. I put nettle tea bags in my compost bin area so hopefully that will help the soil too.

[@dafw3431]

Interesting topic. I Personally use seaweed but nettles or comfrey would surely work well too. Either way, good to experiment and share results, cheers huw 👍

[@billyandrew]

Same here.

[@sweethometreasures]

Mind.Blown.