General directions for using fish or fish scraps as fertiliser:

• Put the fish material in water (just enough to cover them) and mix in some leaves, sawdust, or other high-carbon material which helps to minimise the smell of fermenting fish.
• Cover the mixture and leave it outside for a week or more. This gives time for the leaves etc to break down, and for anaerobic bacteria, which in fertiliser will help fend off pests and disease, to develop.
• When it is ready to use, strain the liquid through cloth or a sieve and dilute with water until it is approximately the colour of weak tea. It can then be used in the manner of liquid fertilisers.
• Additionally, add a small amount of natural soap as a wetting agent - so it sticks to the foliage or soil better.

Seaweed as fertiliser - it may take a long time for it to compost in water, so boiling is recommended. Cook the seaweed until the water is green, and it can be stored in a closed container or used when it has cooled. Also, some people use powdered kelp as an ingredient of home-made fertiliser, so perhaps drying and powdering it would be useful.

Always start with a very diluted solution and possibly only on a few plants for testing. These liquid fertilisers can become very strong and may burn your plants!

To Glasshouse organics.