Aren’t your zucchini getting bigger? Resolutely easy to grow, these vegetables require a lot of attention and maintenance, especially if you want to enjoy a bountiful harvest. To have beautiful, delicious courgettes this summer, it is essential to use good natural fertilizers. In this context, did you know that rice can work wonders on your plants? An excellent natural fertilizer, it provides essential nutrients to your cucurbits so that they develop fully without rotting or being attacked by pests. Furthermore, it is available in every pantry. How to use it to increase vegetables? Place rice grains at the foot of the courgettes or opt for rice rinse water instead? Let’s explain!
How to increase the growth of courgettes?
How to use rice as fertilizer for plants? There are two variations. You can use rice grains as a background fertilizer or turn them into rinse water to pour directly at the feet of vegetables to make them grow faster. In short, rice is an excellent slow-release fertilizer for healthy, vigorous plants. In fact, it is an inexhaustible mine of vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, fiber and amino acids. What about starch, is it good for plants? Rich in this complex carbohydrate, rice contributes greatly to plant growth and therefore to the yield of your vegetable garden. Once digested, it turns into a reservoir of energy that doubles the yield. In our article of the day, we will tell you about these few foolproof ways of using rice to have lots of courgettes this summer. So, give it a try!
Place the rice at the foot of the courgettes
To put this method into practice, nothing could be easier. It is enough to take a few spoons of rice grains, find them in the pantry, bury them at the foot of the zucchini and then water. Once in contact with water, the starch comes out providing energy to the courgettes or houseplants. Yes, you can also put rice in your flower pots. In addition to being an excellent fertilizer, rice also promotes drainage. Be careful, however, we remind you that it is a slow-release natural fertilizer. This method should therefore be performed once every two months, at most.
Season the courgettes with rice water
To enjoy rice as a quick-release natural fertilizer, consider rice water. To increase your cucurbits, use it once every 2-3 weeks. How to prepare it? There are a few options for getting the most out of it in the vegetable garden. The first and most suitable for growing zucchini is to mix three tablespoons of rice grains and two tablespoons of activated carbon in the food processor. Once the ingredients have been crushed, pour in 1 liter of non-limestone water and mix again. Pour the liquid directly at the feet of your courgettes. Of course, you can remove the activated charcoal and simply ferment the rice grains in a good amount of water. That’s how!
How to prepare rice water to water your zucchini?
Rice cooking water is very easy to make. The simplest method is to rinse 1/2 cup of rice and soak it in a bowl with two cups of water for 30 minutes. Then, filter the fermented water into a clean container. Remember to disinfect your containers with vinegar or isopropyl alcohol to ensure all containers are germ-free. Cover the container with a cotton cloth secured with an elastic band, ensuring that air passes through. Place outside, but not in direct sunlight, and leave for two days.
Then take the mixture and pour it into a new container. Fill it with one part rice water and nine parts milk. Cover with a cotton cloth and place out of direct sunlight for a week. Separate the liquid, called lactobacillus, from the container and store it in an airtight jar. To make fermented rice water even more effective, add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Use it to water your tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers or even your flowering plants. Some gardeners use it as a natural weedkiller to eliminate weeds in the garden.
Rice water and egg – another perfect fertilizer for your zucchini
This natural rice-based fertilizer is prepared with:
- 3 tablespoons of rice grains
- 1 whole egg in the shell
- 2 l of non-calcareous water
Mix all the ingredients together and let the rice water ferment for 6 to 12 hours. Then filter it and pour it into a bottle or other container filled with 1 liter of water. Use to water the roots of your zucchini. Guarantee of a healthy and abundant harvest!
Read also: Natural insecticide for courgettes