Johann Hunt
Your two red garden gems, tomatoes and strawberries, love a healthy dose of care, and gardening writer Rosslyn Kemerer has a simple way to give it to them.
She calls it liquid gold, a homemade mix that turns scraps into nourishment plants canât resist. Itâs easy to make, kind to the soil, and a satisfying trick that keeps backyard harvests looking and tasting their best.
Why Tomatoes And Strawberries Struggle Without Help
For many gardeners, thereâs nothing more frustrating than seeing homegrown tomatoes and strawberries grow, only to have the fruit fail to ripen.
These plants demand steady nutrition, especially during warmer months, to yield flavorful fruits. Without proper fertilization, growth slows. And subsequently, harvests can turn disappointing.
Thatâs why healthy soil becomes the foundation of a successful season. So, what do you feed your soil?
Store-Bought Vs. Homemade Fertilizer
Commercial brands like Miracle-Gro are convenient, but Rosslyn Kemerer, gardening expert and writer at âOur Nook of the Woods,â reminds readers that homemade options can be just as effectiveâand cost-free.
Kemerer calls her method âliquid gold fertilizer,â a mix thatâs nutrient-rich and quick for plants to absorb. This approach makes use of everyday scraps instead of synthetic blends.
So how does this âliquid goldâ actually work? To answer that, letâs first find out how it’s made:
How Liquid Gold Is Made
Creating this fertilizer requires just a bucket, water, and plant material. Rosslyn explains that the processâcommonly called compost teaâextracts nutrients from organic matter.
The mixture steeps for several days or weeks to break down into a dark, rich liquid. Gardeners then strain and dilute it before feeding it directly to their plants.
The best part? You already have the key ingredients lying around.
Scraps That Turn Into Plant Fuel
Tomatoes and strawberries are heavy feeders, especially for potassium. According to Rosslyn Kemerer, banana peels and dandelions both meet that need naturally.
When soaked in water, these scraps release nutrients like potassium and phosphorus, which strengthen roots and boost flowering. These simple waste items quickly transform into a fertilizer concentrate that rivals expensive store-bought options.
While Kemerer doesnât exclusively list the following ingredients, gardeners can still experiment with other soft green matter, such as:
- Chickweed: Release nitrogen that fuels leafy growth.
- Clover: Adds nitrogen and calcium.
- Leftover spinach leaves: Provide iron, magnesium, and trace minerals.
- Lettuce leaves: Contribute nitrogen for steady green growth.
These additions bring more balance to the brew. While banana peels and dandelions deliver the potassium that tomatoes and strawberries crave, a mix of greens helps round out the nutritional profile.
Timing, however, plays a big role in how potent the mix becomes.
Timing And Dilution Matter
Rosslyn notes that steeping time influences the strength of the fertilizer. After three days, it can be used directly. After one week, it should be diluted at a ratio of one to eight. Two weeks or longer requires a one-to-fifteen ratio.
Longer steeping extracts more nutrients but creates a more potent brew that plants need in smaller doses. And before you get started, thereâs one important detail to keep in mind.
The Water You Use Makes A Difference
Chlorinated tap water can harm the microorganisms that make compost tea effective. Filtered or rainwater works best. Chlorinated water has chlorine, which kills beneficial microbes, reducing the value of the final mixture. By starting with the right water, gardeners protect the living organisms that help roots absorb nutrients more efficiently.
This simple step ensures your liquid gold actually delivers what plants need.
The Payoff In Your Garden
When used consistently, this homemade fertilizer helps tomatoes and strawberries produce bigger, tastier harvests. The natural potassium fuels fruit development, while phosphorus supports roots, and nitrogen encourages leaf growth.
As Rosslyn Kemerer explains, âPretty much any type of green leaf or weed stores useful nutrients that will break down when soaked in water.â That flexibility makes liquid gold a reliable option season after season.
Wrap-Up
If your garden has been slow to deliver, skip the store-bought blends and let your scraps do the work. This liquid gold fertilizer is easy, affordable, and powerful enough to give your plants exactly what they crave.