How To Make Organic Fish Emulsion For Your Garden

by DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

Fresh or canned fish
5 gallon bucket with tight-fitting lid
Browns, like sawdust, leaves or straw
1 to 2 tbsp. molasses
1 to 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (optional)
1 to 2 tbsp. Epsom salts (optional)

Organic fish emulsion is a powerful agricultural fertilizer high in organic nitrogen and soluble phosphorous and potassium, which benefits as a foiliar feed. Homemade organic fish emulsion is great for your garden because it’s cheap, has many nutrients and contains aerobic bacteria which are essential for disease control and soil health. When you make your own fish emulsion, you can also control the trace elements added and the growth of the microbes to suit the needs of your plants.

Step 1 – Prepare The Fish Mixture

First, fill the bucket halfway with your browns. Add the fish and the molasses, and then blend the ingredients together. The browns help to control the offensive smell while also absorbing any organic nitrogen so that it doesn’t evaporate. The molasses is important as it not only helps to control the odor, but it also builds up beneficial microbes in the fishy mixture to accelerate decomposition.

Seal up your bucket with the tight-fitting lid. Closing up the bucket and sealing it will serve to control the environment in which the microbes will grow.

If you are using canned fish, let it decompose separately in a different container with some good soil and finished compost before you use it with the browns and molasses. This will ensure that the preservatives don’t kill or harm any of the good microbes you’re trying to get in your paste. These chemicals could also harm your compost pile if put there before being allowed to break down.

Step 2 – Stir It Up

Every day or two, take the lid off your bucket and stir the mixture. This puts air into the emulsion for better microbial growth and decomposition. Let this paste rot for at least 1 to 2 weeks.

If you wish to mimic acidity and add trace elements found in commercial fish emulsions, you may add apple cider vinegar. If you would like to add extra magnesium and sulfer, you can now add your Epsom salts. Either ingredient is acceptable, and both leave beneficial trace elements in your emulsion. Recent studies also show that unsulfured molasses or dry powdered molasses are best for microbial growth in tea brewing. As a result, if you plan to make a compost tea, unsulfured or dry powdered molasses can be beneficial to you.