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Mare's Tail/Equisetum

 
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gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8577
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 16 8:57 pm    Post subject: Mare's Tail/Equisetum Reply with quote
    

I have yet another garden full of the stuff...it has grown up through membrane into the raised beds, and it is everywhere...sigh....right through the lawn...just when you need to be composting as much as possible....

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 16 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dissolve it in a mixture tub

barrel
add nasty veg(and/or high mineral stuff like nettles comfrey etc)
cover veg with water
ferment

the ferment works really well if you use some soil and/or dung as a starter
adding blood fish and bone is good
adding chicken(or other) guano is excellent
rats,pigs heads etc are good

leave the lid loose as the gasses can pop a sealed container and a semi aerobic ferment gives better feed

it stinks like a very stinky thing but after a few months the liquid feed is ace(and works well to activate normal compost heaps) and all the nasty veg or nasty veg seeds are safe when you need to unload some of the sludge on soil or compost heap.

boil it in an oil drum and compost as usual is another option

we had lots of it on the allotment and the above does at least deal with tops and any you dig out

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8577
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 16 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ta Plenty of docks to help the brew! The garden has had 20 yeas of neglect

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 16 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the liquid feed will be too concentrated for most plants so dilute it for use

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8577
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Sat Jun 11, 16 6:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The usual large capful in a watering can?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Jun 11, 16 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

for a 2 gallon can

1 cup for general use

2 cups for tomatoes

4 cups for curcubitaceae in soil

half and half for curcubitaceae in rotten straw every other watering

neat for compost heap activation

these are rough amounts based on a dark tea colour ,use more for a pale liquor and less if it is like guinness

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 16 5:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've also read it makes it an effective natural fungicide.
& the high silica content an effectice scourer & sandpaper substitute.

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8577
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 16 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

you'll often find equisetum in shampoos,including for animals...good for the skin,apparently !

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 16 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The silica would be an exfoliant I would think. Think that is the word anyway. Rub it on the skin to take the top loose skin off.

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