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Western PA

Can someone enlighten me on the use of alfalfa pellets, it's benefits, how, when, and at what rate they are applied.

Who uses alfalfa Pellets??

Where do you get them?

Thanks in advance!

12/18/2009 4:10:22 PM

Ohio

you can get them at any co-op (farm supply) or even at a pet shop where rabbits are sold, but I think you will pay a little more for it at the pet shops.

12/18/2009 4:42:54 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

Pumpkin Picker,

For years, people have applied alfalfa pellets to their rose plants. There is something called triacotanol that is released and I hear it makes the blooms better.

But on to growing big pumpkins. I have seen alfalfa pellets in most of the compost tea recipies. So, I started using it there. (A handful per 5-gallon batch)

When I turn my compost piles, I always add some alfalfa pellets. It speeds up the heating and decomposition process.

Also, alfalfa meal is a major ingredient in making your own organic fertilizers.

There is a feed store near my house that sells a 50 pound bag for about $11.00. Most of the people buy it to feed their rabbits.

I hope this helps!

Chuck

12/18/2009 6:04:43 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

If you do use it make sure it's pure alfalfa pellets. Many rabbit and horse feeds have salt added to it. Check the ingredients list.

12/18/2009 6:26:08 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I have used powdered alfalfa meal but can't say if it helped. It sure didn't hurt. One Iowa State Extension master gardener used to recommend mulching your tomatoes and other plants with alfalfa hay and claimed you would see great improvement in the crop you rotated the spot to the following year.

12/18/2009 8:44:38 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

PS...you nailed the problem that I am having w/finding a local source for alfalfa pellets, or meal...all of the local sources have a high salt content!!! Peace, Wayne

12/19/2009 2:01:34 AM

London, Ohio

the more alfafa is studied the more they say its like land seaweed. there is only a few minerals it lacks so if you cant get seaweed use alfafa instead plus it gives off organic nitrogen as it decomposes. i use it and i think im going to use alot more instead of kelp next season.

12/19/2009 9:55:05 AM

London, Ohio

make sure to call the supplier on the bag to double check that no salts or any kind of minerals were added during processing

12/19/2009 9:56:06 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

Alfalfa meal is truly an excellent soil-builder, is a good addition to a compost tea brew, and offers slow-release nitrogen. Kelp meal has its benefit with plant hormones and the various groth regulators to boost a plant through its growth stages, flowering and fruiting, as well as disease resistence and an enhanced ability to defeat attempts by insects to give your plants a "bad day".

There are many places to procure these two resources. If the original poster still has difficulty finding them in the coming weeks a reliable source of quality product is at < soilmender.com >.

12/19/2009 11:34:20 AM

Ohio

Thanks for the info on this post, didnt know that much about the Alpha pellets before, I just always used them in my compost pile to get er going. I need to check the salts in mine however , I never gave that a thought it could be high in salts.

12/20/2009 5:11:43 AM