Nothing says summer quite like a plump, juicy tomato picked straight from the vine. But these tasty treats don’t always come easily: tomato plants are notoriously demanding, needing consistent watering, regular feeding and protection from extreme temperature swings — hello, heatwave.
While shop-bought fertilisers can cost anywhere between £5 and £15, there is a natural alternative you can make at home for free, using an easily accessible weed found everywhere from garden beds and borders to patios and paving: the humble stinging nettle.
“One of the things I love most about gardening is that some of the best solutions are often the simplest," says Loren Taylor, owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros.
"Stinging nettles are a great example. Many people see them as weeds, but over my 17 years working in landscaping and gardening, I have found they can be surprisingly useful, especially for growing healthy tomato plants.
“Tomatoes are hungry plants. They need the right balance of nutrients to grow strong stems, healthy leaves and plenty of flavourful fruit. Stinging nettles are naturally rich in nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and calcium. These nutrients help support strong growth and can give tomato plants a healthy boost during the early part of the growing season.”
How to make nettle fertiliser
One of my favourite ways to use nettles is by making nettle tea fertiliser, explains Loren,
She says: “The process is simple. Young nettles are soaked in water and left to steep. Once the mixture is ready, it should be diluted before use. A 1:10 ratio is commonly recommended for established tomato plants. I always apply it around the base of the plant rather than directly onto the leaves.”
Nettle fertiliser is best used when tomato plants are still putting on leafy growth, before they begin focusing their energy on flowers and fruit. For outdoor tomatoes in the UK, this is typically late June or early July, depending on when they were planted out.
“In my experience, nettle fertiliser works best early in the season (late June/early July if planting outdoors) when tomato plants are still growing,” adds Loren. “It helps them become strong and healthy before they start producing fruit. However, it is important not to use too much. Once tomatoes begin flowering, too much nitrogen can lead to lots of leaves but fewer tomatoes.”
When to stop using nettle feed
Because nettles are rich in nitrogen, they are particularly useful during the early growth stage. Once tomato plants start flowering and setting fruit, it is usually better to ease off nitrogen-rich feeds and switch to a fertiliser higher in potassium, which supports fruit development.
Loren adds: “For the best results, use nettle fertiliser as part of a complete tomato care routine. Water plants regularly, as tomatoes do not like soil that dries out and then becomes very wet. Adding mulch helps keep moisture in the soil and protects roots from the heat. Tomatoes also need plenty of sunlight and grow best with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
“Another tip I often share is to avoid rushing fruit production. Healthy plants that develop strong roots and sturdy stems early in the season usually reward you with better harvests later. A little patience at the beginning often leads to larger crops and tastier tomatoes.”
A natural boost for tomato plants
Stinging nettles may seem like just another weed, but they can be a useful and natural way to help tomato plants grow.
Loren continues: "When used correctly, they can support stronger plants, healthier fruit and a better harvest. Sometimes the best garden helpers are the plants we usually overlook.”
Summer gardening edit
John Lewis VegTrug
Metal Square Digging Spade
