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maine USA

I am considering using alfalfa meal in my patch. I am wondering if anyone else has used it, and what kind of results did they get. Also if I do use it, when would be the best time of year to apply it for best results? thanks Kathy Truong, Lewiston Maine

9/9/2005 9:04:49 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Alfalfa Meal is an excellent soil amendment. It has natural growth hormones just like Sea Kelp, plus is loaded with micro nutrients. If I were to apply it it would be during the spring time otherwise leaching during the winter will occur. Grow them Big...Shannon

9/9/2005 10:03:09 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I use alfalfa pellets and meal. I agree with Shannon. It is best applied in the spring. I will apply 2-4 weeks prior to setting my seedlings out. It is also great for use in compost teas. Add 2 cups per 5 gallons of tea to your usual compost teat ingredients.

9/9/2005 11:21:28 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Shannon/Monty, how much alfalfa do you add per 1000 sq. ft? And Monty, are the pellets feed grade pellets?

Thanks/Glenn

9/9/2005 1:33:08 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I have used alfalfa meal in my compost tea this year as well.

I believe an application of 10 to 20 pounds/1000sq.ft. would be adequate.

It can also be used as a drench directly to the soil.

Alfalfa meals natural hormones will help keep the plants younger looking with a more vibrant root system later into September.

9/9/2005 1:54:36 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Yes Glenn, the pellets I use are feed grade. A 50 pound bag costs 8 dollars at the local store. They break down very quickly in water and swell up. A word of caution, if you use them in your tea, dispose of the mush soon after the tea is done. I once left a bag of alfalfa in the brewer for a few days after the tea was done. I now know why manure smells the way it does. Now I mix it into the compost pile immediately.
I also believe that adding alfalfa to the soil in the fall can be beneficial if you are one of the growers who tills uncomposted leaves directly into the patch. It helps break down the leaves much more quickly without tying up nitrogen.
I think of alfalfa as the poor mans Kelp Meal. Since I use little to no store bought ferts, I am planning to go a little heavier on the meal in the spring. Probably about 30 pounds per 1000 square feet. I am also going to spread about 5-10 pounds of feed grade mollasses flakes per 1000 square feet to aid in the breakdown of the alfalfa. I do not use mollasses in my compost tea though.

9/9/2005 5:06:44 PM

valparaiso, in

hey MontyJ, why dont you use mollasses in your compost tea? im just curious?

9/10/2005 2:19:05 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I use my tea on the vegetables I grow as well as the pumpkins. Mollasses will cause a population boom of both good and bad bacteria. The risk of e. coli contamination is much higher if mollasses is used to brew compost tea, especially if a manure based compost is used.
If your compost is strictly yard waste there is no danger of e. coli contamination. Also, if you plan to use your tea only on the pumpkins, it would be safe to use mollasses.

9/10/2005 7:38:36 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I use alot of Alfalfa meal. I use it in a Tea. Alfalfa meal tea works great as a natural disease control. I used it alot this year and had no powdery mildew. If your going to use straight meal in the soil, put it in early spring and work it in the soil before planting

9/10/2005 9:25:12 AM

maine USA

Thanks for all of the info :} Kathy T

9/10/2005 9:39:00 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Is this a product that comes in a bag? Where you do find it?

9/14/2005 5:57:00 PM

Montoursville, PA

Most organic garden supply outlets have all kinds of meals.
One national distributer, Fertrell, is on line with their catalog and dealer lists. Shipping is a major item. It pays, to take some time and avoid excessive shipping cost, by searching the web.

If you are, in the farm country your farm and feed dealers very often carry basic needs. The web has several Western Suppliers showing. I have never looked into them because I am a Northeastern person.

9/14/2005 7:47:59 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

We have alfalfa meal @ PumpkinSupply.com! It's listed under soil amendments.

10/10/2005 11:12:54 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Most any local feed store sales Aflafla meal

10/10/2005 10:27:42 PM