Fish emulsion – what is it, how to use it, and is it safe to use? Farmer Nathan is here to share how to use fish emulsion for great results! So many questions for something that smells like fishy business! I have used this product personally for about 5 years and can’t wait to share what I have learned about it. One thing to note is I do not suggest smelling the bottle if you purchase it. 😉 It will certainly hit your nostrils pretty good!
Fish emulsion – what is it?
If the name or smell doesn’t give it away, fish emulsion is derived from fish byproducts and offers a lovely fishy aroma. Indians at one time would place fish heads underneath their crops to boost the plant health, and they knew by observation that it worked! Fish emulsion essentially brings that growth boost capacity and makes it easier and quicker to apply today. It is a fast-acting and easily absorbed combination of nutrients for plants.
What makes it work well is how it interacts directly with the leaves rather than the soil. Wait, isn’t amending the soil good enough for growing vegetables? In spring and fall, it often is and works wonders. But when the cold of winter or the brutal heat of summer strikes, sometimes plants need an extra boost. Fish emulsion is one of my favorite tools to help them reach max productivity.
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How to use it?
Foliar fish emulsion is very easy to use. There are 4 things to gather before starting.
- Spray bottle. This can be a little hand held spray bottle, pump sprayers, or backpack sprayers, depending on how large of an area you need to cover.
- Foliar Fish Emulsion. I like it from an organic source when possible and this particular one is a good option.
- Strainer. Sometimes, fish emulsion can have a bit of sediment and it is best to try and remove this when pouring into the sprayer. Here is one I like to use
- Water. Room temperature seems to work best to get a good incorporation of the fish emulsion into the water.
The amount of fish emulsion you put into the sprayer will depend on the concentration. My 4-1-1 fish emulsion calls for 2 tablespoon per gallon of water. Once the fish emulsion is added, I like to let it sit for 10-15 minutes to let it properly dissolve into the water. For an extra boost, I also like to add a pinch of water soluble kelp.
Now that your fish emulsion spray is ready, let’s take it to the garden. I like to adjust the nozzle to make a small bead of water so that it sticks to the leaf of the crops you are spraying. If your sprayer does a mist setting, this can work very well for this task. 1 gallon of fish emulsion spray usually does fourteen 100-foot rows of various crops. More if it is a small crop such as arugula or radishes. And less if it is a large plant like tomatoes or squash.
Be careful not to spray any plants once the temperature is over 80 degrees! Since fish emulsion has oil, it can cause burns from the sun on the leaves and other plant surfaces. I also do not suggest spraying right before a rain as the fish emulsion will simply be washed off the plants.
How frequently do you use it?
This is always a challenge to determine. I like to base it off of temperatures and rain patterns. Hot weather promotes a quicker absorption of nutrients. Whereas cold weather prompts a slow uptake of nutrients by plants. If it is getting above 80 degrees during the afternoon, I like to spray every 7-10 days. About every 10-14 days for when it is in the 60-70 degree range. And as soon as colder weather settles in with temperatures struggling to reach the 50’s, I cut back to once every-other week.
Can I use too much?
Yes, you can. When a plant has too much nitrogen, it can actually cause burns on the leaves. This appears as browning or yellowing of the outer edge of leaves. A good sign to watch when you need to begin adding it is if you notice yellowing leaves, the bottom of the leaves are turning purple, or the plant seems to be stunted.
Please note that fish emulsion doesn’t cure everything. I like to view it as a simple tool to help along the road to a successful garden.
What to do after spraying?
Congrats! Your garden is successfully fertilized with a nice boost of nutrition. To prevent the garden sprayer from smelling over time, I like to rinse out the sprayer 3 times, making sure to get water through the nozzle each time. Be sure to store the fish emulsion out of sunlight for a longer shelf life as well.
Now that everything is cleaned and put away, you are ready to go the next time your garden needs a boost. I hope these tips help you to achieve great success in your garden there. Looking for more gardening tips, check out our other posts in our blog!
