How To Make Homemade Blood Meal Fertilizer

If you’re looking to give your garden a nutrient boost, blood meal fertilizer is an excellent option! It’s packed with nitrogen, essential for promoting healthy plant growth and lush, green foliage. While you can buy blood meal at garden centers, making it yourself is a great way to reduce waste and ensure you’re using natural, high-quality ingredients. Here’s how you can create homemade blood meal fertilizer and put it to work in your garden.

What Is Blood Meal?

Blood meal is a dry powder made from the blood of animals, typically cows or pigs, and is a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer. This rich source of nitrogen helps boost soil health, making it perfect for plants that need a little extra nourishment, especially vegetables and leafy greens.

Benefits of Using Blood Meal in the Garden

Before we dive into the process, let’s talk about why blood meal is such a great addition to your garden:

• High Nitrogen Content: Blood meal provides a quick nitrogen fix, which plants need for green, leafy growth.
• Soil Amendment: It helps balance out soils that are low in nitrogen or overly acidic.
• Pest Deterrent: Some gardeners claim blood meal helps repel pests like deer, rabbits, and moles.

What You’ll Need

Making blood meal at home isn’t too complicated, but you’ll need to source some key ingredients and tools:

1. Animal Blood: The main ingredient! If you butcher your own animals or know someone who does (like a local butcher), you can request or save the blood.
2. A Large Pot: For boiling and processing the blood.
3. Dehydrator or Oven: To dry the blood into a powder.
4. Grinder: A coffee grinder or food processor to grind the dried blood into a fine powder.
5. Protective Gear: Gloves and an apron to keep things sanitary.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Blood Meal

Now let’s walk through the process of turning fresh blood into dry, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Step 1: Source Your Blood

The first step is finding animal blood. If you’re a hunter, farmer, or butcher, this may be easy. You can also ask local butchers or slaughterhouses if they have any animal blood available. Always handle blood carefully and keep it refrigerated or frozen if you’re not using it right away.

Step 2: Boil the Blood

Once you have your blood, pour it into a large pot. Boil it gently, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. As the blood boils, it will coagulate and form solid chunks. This process also helps remove any harmful bacteria.

Step 3: Dehydrate the Coagulated Blood

After boiling the blood, you’ll need to dry it out. There are a couple of methods to do this:

• Using a Dehydrator: Spread the coagulated blood pieces evenly in your dehydrator trays. Set it to a low heat (around 120°F) and leave it to dry for 6–8 hours, or until the blood is completely dried and crumbly.
• Using an Oven: If you don’t have a dehydrator, your oven will work too. Spread the blood chunks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place it in the oven at its lowest temperature (around 150°F). Prop the oven door open slightly to allow moisture to escape, and let it dry for several hours until fully dehydrated.

Step 4: Grind the Blood into Powder

Once the blood is thoroughly dried, it’s time to turn it into a fine powder. Use a coffee grinder, food processor, or even a mortar and pestle to grind the dried blood into a fine, uniform powder. This is your blood meal!

Step 5: Store and Use Your Blood Meal

Store your homemade blood meal in an airtight container to keep it fresh. Label it, so you don’t forget what’s inside! Blood meal can be used throughout your garden by sprinkling it on the soil or mixing it into your compost pile.

How to Use Blood Meal in Your Garden

• Direct Application: Sprinkle a small amount of blood meal around the base of nitrogen-loving plants like tomatoes, spinach, and cabbage. Be sure not to overdo it—too much nitrogen can cause plants to grow foliage at the expense of flowers and fruit.
• Soil Amendment: If you notice that your garden soil is deficient in nitrogen, work blood meal into the top 1–2 inches of soil. Water it in well to help it start breaking down and releasing nutrients.
• Compost Booster: Add blood meal to your compost pile to help speed up the decomposition process, especially if your pile is high in carbon materials like dried leaves or wood chips.

Important Tips and Considerations

• Use Sparingly: Blood meal is potent. Using too much can cause nitrogen burn, which damages plants and their roots. A little goes a long way!
• Test Your Soil: Before adding blood meal to your garden, consider testing your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. Blood meal is particularly useful in acidic or nitrogen-deficient soils.
• Pest Considerations: While some pests are repelled by the smell of blood meal, others may be attracted to it. Keep an eye on your garden after using it to see if it draws any unwanted attention.

Conclusion

Making your own blood meal fertilizer is a fantastic way to recycle natural materials and give your garden a nitrogen-rich boost. Whether you’re growing leafy greens, tomatoes, or root vegetables, blood meal can help ensure that your plants have the nutrients they need to thrive. Plus, making it yourself can save money and reduce waste. Give it a try, and watch your garden flourish!