I'm not sure if this question has been answered before in this group, but...

I have a large barrel of nettle brew which I started off about a month ago.
I wrapped the nettles in net curtains before I put them in the barrel as I
found that last year, the resulting liquid was nearly impossible to use due
to the large amount of slimy gunk that didn't decompose into the water (I
just dropped the nettles into the barrel last year). My question therefore
is this...do I take the nettles out of the water at some point or is it
preferable just to leave them in the water until all the nettle brew is used
up? Will the brew become too strong if I leave the nettles in the barrel
indefinately?

I don't use it neat on the plants, generally I use half brew / half water.

Jeannie


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In article , Jeannie
writes
I'm not sure if this question has been answered before in this group, but...

I have a large barrel of nettle brew which I started off about a month ago.
I wrapped the nettles in net curtains before I put them in the barrel as I
found that last year, the resulting liquid was nearly impossible to use due
to the large amount of slimy gunk that didn't decompose into the water (I
just dropped the nettles into the barrel last year). My question therefore
is this...do I take the nettles out of the water at some point or is it
preferable just to leave them in the water until all the nettle brew is used
up? Will the brew become too strong if I leave the nettles in the barrel
indefinately?

I don't use it neat on the plants, generally I use half brew / half water.

I would suggest that you leave the nettles in the water, but use a lot
more water by proportion to herbage. I add either nettles or water from
time to time as seems necessary to keep a good supply of infusion ready
for use. At the end of the season I clear the whole lot out onto our
veg. growing area, then start afresh the following spring. I too add 50
percent rainwater to the brew when I use it.

Nettle FAQ at: http://www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFAQ/nettle.html
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.