Step 1

Collect enough stinging nettles to fill a container - I'm using a plastic tub that contained fat balls, but whatever you use needs a sealable lid.
 

Step 2

Place the nettles in a large tub and chop them up using shears. You'll need a larger tub for this, or you can chop them in smaller batches in the same container.
 

Step 3

Transfer the chopped nettles to your sealable tub, and place a brick or stone on top to weigh them down.

Step 4

Fill the container till the nettles are all covered - the stone prevents them floating away. Place the lid on loosely to keep the rain out, but do not seal it.

Step 5

After 2 to 3 weeks, the liquid should have gone a murky green colour and the nettle tea is ready for use.

Step 6

Strain the liquid into a bucket - I used an old mushroom crate as a coarse sieve.
 

Step 7

Rinse out the sealable container to get rid of any residual plant matter.

Step 8

Strain the liquid into the final sealable container, this time using a fine sieve. This will remove all but the finest particles, and prevent it clogging the rose on your watering can.
 

Step 9

Seal the lid on the container.

• This stuff STINKS, so I would not recommend using it on houseplants.
• Nettle tea is a concentrated fertiliser and should be diluted 10:1, which means adding about 900ml to a 10 litre watering can. Use as a general purpose fertiliser about once every 4-6 weeks.
• Stinging nettles contain large amounts of vitamins A, C, D, E, F, K, P, and vitamin B-complexes, as well as lots of minerals including calcium, selenium, zinc, iron and magnesium. These boost general plant health, stimulate growth and bolster the plants' immune system, making them less susceptible to disease and pest damage.