Alfalfa tea

Any iris grower using only alfalfa tea for fertilization?


when to fertilize........how often.......what dilution

Not sure of dilution. We use the meal scattered between the rhizomes. Can have weed seeds with it but certainly a good natural fertilizer.

Hi jackieshar

Hope this helps. Alfalfa meal 1-0-0 per 25lb bag not that concentrated.

For more than 50 years, alfalfa has been used as a plant stimulant. The responsible chemical for this action is triacontanol which is ubiquitous, occurring widely in nature as a waxy coating on many plants and as a major component of beeswax. Triacontanol has been called "the most potent growth hormone ever used on plants."

I'm sure someone else can add more on this.

Lyle

It is often sold at feed stores--used (pellets) as rabbit food. Very popular in New England.

I use the alfalfa tea from the pellets in all my gardens...just not sure how often or how much I can use it for bearded iris...I sure don't want to over fertilize them..

I use 5-10-10 on my iris. I've always been concerned that alfalfa tea or alfalfa would have too much nitrogen in it. I could very well be wrong though. I do know that the dahlias can get leggy from too much alfalfa which does imply a high amount of nitrogen.

Doss--we use both alfalfa & 5-10-10 without problems. Alfalfa more when we plant & the other in the spring just before bloom.

I use alfalfa pellets when I plant. I asked the county agent about using them for an organic supply of nitrogen for my fruit trees -- which don't need a whole lot of nitrogen. He said alfalfa pellets were great soil builders but really took to long to break down to satisfy the tree's need for nitrogen. I would think the same would be true for iris. Use it as a soil conditioner, provider of minerals and supply nitrogen some other way.

that sounds reasonable, I just didn't know if alfalfa tea would be too high in nitrogen, sounds like it would be ok

Hard to say, Jackieshar. I once made manure tea and poured it on a small tree and it was so intense it killed the tree within a few days. So, I would start slowly on alfalfa tea. But it may not be the same as manure tea.

I use alfalfa, manure and now and then epsom salts for watering iris and lilies, year round, whenever I'm watering. Just make sure that you use pure alfalfa, without molasses (tho that doesn't hurt b u t NO CORN) Make sure you use pure alfalfa. Full of micro-nutrients.

Corn is a growth inhibitor.

Have to cover the barrels with screen to keep out mosquitos (West Nile ) and a closefitting lid to keep out the smell if you are in an urban area. Mine has to be kept in the garage to make sure local kids don't get at it. (I live in inner city).

Hoping cold freeze warms up one day soon.

inanda

When preparing new iris beds, I dig in alfalfa when preparing beds in he spring. Iris are planted in Augustish..

Alfalfa is the primary ingredient in some of the bagged organic fertilizers which are blended with other natural materials such as molasses, humates, etc. Thay have the wonderful sweet smell of alfalfa, and when used as directed are safe, non-burning, easy to use, and feed the soil as well as the plants. I have been using a 3-1-5 product from "Bradford" for several years and am very pleased with the effects on my irises, and the improved condition of the soil. I mix it in the root zone at planting time, and gently work it in under the mulch away from the rhizome in early February and late October. Just remember Valentines Day and Halloween, which is a good time to fertilize in zone 8a, North Central Texas. I also supplement with a small amount of timed release chemical fertilizer such as Osmocote, with a high 2nd number (phosphorus) which is applied st the same time, same method. Remember, feeder roots are right at the surface... you don't want to damage them. I haven't tried the tea, not sure of the concentration, plus, it's just too easy adding it to the soil. Look for these products at nurseries and feed stores that carry organics. I'm sure you will be pleased with the results....... I was writing when inanda's message was posted mentioning the use of molasses. I think she was referring to corn gluten and not molasses (please correct me if I'm wrong) I've attached a link to an interesting article on molasses as a fertilizer and as a deterrent to fire ants.

http://www.malcolmbeck.com/books/gv_method/MolassesSweetandSuper.htm

When using alfalfa, make sure you purchase pure alfalfa (generally produced as horse feed) rather than something like rabbit pellets which may contain salt and other additives along with the alfalfa.

Alfalfa is low in NPK but high in micronutrients, so it's a safe fertilizer/soil additive. If you add too much, though, when amending a bed, alfalfa can produce a tremendous amount of heat during decomposition and potentially burn plant roots.

When top-dressed or side-dressed, alfalfa can turn into a stinky, slimy mess when wet. Some folks believe that it also contributes to fungal leaf spot infections in iris beds when applied on top of the soil.

Alfalfa, either top-dressed or tilled into the soil, may encourage deer to ravage your iris beds. Use at your own risk in deer territory.

Manure is a different issue altogether. Its nutritional properties are quite different than those of alfalfa. Manure tea can burn plants, depending on the type and age of manure, and on how thoroughly it is fermented before application to the plants. It's always safest to use well-composted manure in manure tea.

Laurie

Molasses is fine,if it is an ingredient in your alfalfa. You must be sure not to use any alfalfa product that contains any trace of corn. I use 45 gal. barrells. about 16 double handfuls or so of alfalfa cubes or less if rabbit pellets (ON:Y IF PURE ALFALFA PELLETS) , a couple of shovels of manure, fill with water and leave it for 2 or 3 weeks. Then use. When barrel is empty, fill with water and wait another 3 weeks. When that barrel is empty, I use the sludge as sidedressing. Then start again.

The worse thing about this is that it is so much easier to water with a hose than carrying watering cans. I fill 5 gal buckets and wheellbarrow them around to the various parts of the gardens where I need it. Am thinking about getting one of the 4 wheeled garden wagons, much better than the little red wagon that the kids use.

inanda

I use the pellets themselves without diluting. It's a much more easy process. I don't know what the differences might be.

I, too, just dig the pellets into the soil at planting time or as part of the fertilization process. They fall apart into tiny pieces right away and get mixed in with the soil. The improve the soil the way adding compost does.

I've been using alfalfa tea (rabbit alfalfa pellets) for 2 years as my only rose and beardless iris fertilizer. They have done well with once a month fertilizing (done twice). The roses almost always have a flush of blooms immediately after. I will have to check if there is any corn content this year. Thanks for the info.

If you're using rabbit pellets, check the salt content, too.

If you want straight alfalfa, buy alfalfa meal or pellets manufactured for horses.

If I use any alfalfa whether tea or pellets I am problems with rabbits and deer so neither can be used.

D

Hi Jackie, Some of the ladies here just put the alafa pellets in the beds and leave them. They get them from the feed store here. And I just take old moldie alfalfa and use it as a mulch over my goat manure and it works just fine. Hows the Roswell Incident doing did it make it threw the winter ha ha. Have a good weekend. Susan

No rabbits here in town. Other parts of town do have them though. Have to fence seedlings against feral cats however. I use staples made from wire coathangers for newly planted rhizomes. Warfare against squirrels. Last fall finally decided to put wire over newly planted iris beds. That stopped them. Have seen where they have dug through the snow towards lily bulbs. Guess I'll find if they managed to get any when the snow goes and ground thaws.

inanda

One of our problems is the wild turkeys, they do their dust baths where we have weeded. Alfalfa does produce weeds, but so does our compost & I think the plants do benefit.

Hi Susan, all is well here........"Roswell" got blown apart by some high winds, but I put her back together and she is thriving in the garden. She is right next to "Witches Sabbath" that is multiplying by leaps and bounds.

When I use the pellets I have trouble with rabbits, I am in the middle of the woods you know. They dont seem to bother things when use the fermented tea.
I cleaned out some of the beds yesterday we had and 84 degree day. rare in Feb , even here. Cold here today though, and still the winds are howling. Most all of the iris I got from you last year are doing well, some even beginning to multiply. Hurry spring I am excited to see new bloom. the daffodills are blooming now, but they look lonely all by themselves in this dry drab woods.

Thanks,
girls and guys
I use the molasses too, twice a year I cover my beds with it. It smells heavenly for a few days and it builds up my sorry sandy soil.
I try to put it out when I know in advance that my gardens will have visitors. Like candles in the house.

HURRY SPRING

This message was edited Feb 26, 2008 9:59 AM