For all the gardners out there

farleyv

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We were doing some research on alfalfa pellets for feed for animals.

Well, they say they are excellent feed for gardens. You sprinkle them around in your garden and water. They decompose and release all kinds of good stuff into the soil. They are high in nitrogen. Many people wrote to say how their plants really took off.

And how much more organic can you get? Just thought it was an interesting tidbit.

If it EVER thaws here, I am going to give it a try.
 

Winchester

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DH and I were talking yesterday about where we could find some manure for our garden area. We used to know people who had a few cows and were able to take manure from their little farm and spread it out. They don't have their cows anymore. We may give the alfalfa pellets a try, too, we'll have to look for them. Thanks for the suggestion.
 

sk_pacer

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The high calcium content of alfalfa makes the pellets good for tomatoes.

Pellets are readily available but unless you have a tiny space, don't get the rabbit pellets - they are at least triple the price of livestock alfalfa pellets.
 

goldenkitty45

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But wouldn't the pellets grow? And we have several feet of snow in the back yard right now - the garden is buried and even the tomato cage is about an inch from being buried!
 
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farleyv

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

But wouldn't the pellets grow? And we have several feet of snow in the back yard right now - the garden is buried and even the tomato cage is about an inch from being buried!
Well, they disintegrate. I don't know if they have seeds in them or not..I had rabbits and they ate the small ones. I never had any grow.

Good question tho. Well, you could grow alfalfa. Have you ever smelled it fresh cut? Oh man, it smells wonderful!!
 

stephanietx

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Alfalfa is a WONDERFUL fertilizer! I use it on my tomatoes. If you can find some to use as mulch, turn it under at the end of the season so it can nourish the soil.
 

gailc

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I've been gardening for quite a long time and have never heard of this.
To my way of thinking you would need alot of them. They may add some organic matter but I'm not sure about nutrients.
Many alfalfa field have a fair amount of weeds and there could be some weed seeds in these pellets.
I would check these out with a county ag agent to get a better opinion.
 

sk_pacer

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

But wouldn't the pellets grow? And we have several feet of snow in the back yard right now - the garden is buried and even the tomato cage is about an inch from being buried!
No they won't grow. Alfalfa is best cut and baled before full bloom is reached and seed is set. The bales are then processed into cubes and pellets for feed, no seeds at all, and pellets are so neavily processed, the heat caused by the forming dies would kill any viable seed anyway.
 

gardenandcats

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I have made Alfalfa tea to use on my 200 plus Hostas. I have giant tubs that I put in a bucket of alfalfa and add water..Stir it a few times a day and in about 10 days its ready to be used on my Hostas.
I have never just used the alfalfa but have great results with the tea..It does stink
!! But my hostas love it
 
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