Alfalfa Meal The Ultimate Organic Soil Supplement
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- Welcome back guys! In this video I explain why I have been talking about Alfalfa Meal so much lately in all my demonstrations. I give you the top 5 reasons why Alfalfa is the best organic soil supplement, as well, I discuss the application methods and how to use it most effectively.
Mid-Summer Bed Redo video, I show a great seed/potting mix: • Garden Bed Fail: A Mid...
One of my early DIY potting mixes: • How To Make The Best P...
Use Alfalfa in your next DIY potting mix!: czcams.com/video/9IP51CMBLaA/video.html
I just used alfalfa pellets, my garden is doing good, even in a 100 year drought in South Dakota.
Kelp meal, especially brown kelp, is also a great soil additive that has a unique growth hormone (I forget the name) and 80+ plant available minerals.
Exactly!! Love the seaweed amending! Did an episode on it a couple of months ago!: czcams.com/video/fZsZMp-MCDY/video.html Its sooo good for your plants!
Yes indeed. My lil gardens beggining 2 go bananas
Loved the dog scene. Anyone that loves dogs is a good person. Thnx 4 info too.
Agreed!! If you're a dog person, then you're my kinda person!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Yay, Doggo!!!
Fun fact , Hitler and dommer were both dog people
How about people who eat dog? what you gotta say
I started growing veg last year and only use fabric grow bags of various sizes so your container tips have been most useful. Have just purchased the Alfalfa meal from your recommendation. I have revisited this video as I needed to know how to apply it. Thank you for the valuable information.
interesting video. I add alfalfa pellets into the green nitrogen layer in my compost and the alfalfa accelerates the heating of the compost, my pile will reach 160 degrees within 48 hrs of adding alfalfa pellets. I will try alfalfa in my garden this summer, I already use worm castings and rabbit pellets for natural fertilizers in my potting soil mix and around flowers and garden plants in small quantities and they both work very well making plants grow.
That's excellent to hear Roy! Yeah, Alfalfa is kind of a wonder additive around here! Seedling mixtures, regular potting mixtures, mulches, and compost all have Alfalfa (and canola) added to them. It's amazing stuff and every since I started using it 8 or 9 years ago, I've seen the results time and time again! Cheers mate!
Rabbit pellets contain salt.
@@nancywebb6549 true Rabbit pellets contain salt. but salts are not harmful until they reach a concentration too high for the optimum of plant
growth and yield and rabbit pellets do not contain harmful amounts of salt.
Plant based fertilizers, - or green manures - in general are a great way to go. 👍I grow my own green manures and apply them to my plants as a chop and drop, or brew them into liquid fertilizer when I have an overabundance. I grow several of them such as yarrow, comfrey, Tithonia, and pigeon pea, and I'm adding alfalfa to my collection of green manure plants this year. It's great when you grow these plant-based fertilizers yourself. Not only are they easy to grow, in growing your own you can ensure they were responsibly raised and free of contamination from herbicides and pesticides
Have used it since 2009. Great stuff indeed it is
Awesome Dennis! I'm finding it to be such a booster for seedlings too!
Most commercial growers of alfalfa spray with Roundup. They allow up to 500 mg/kg of the herbicide in dry alfalfa for animal feed. If you use it you are not growing organically. Use organic alfalfa meal or pellets if you want to avoid adding this herbicide to your garden.
Standlee sells 50 pounds of organic pellets for $20 and will drop ship them to most True Value hardware stores at no charge.
@@racebiketuner They are 40 lb, not 50 lb bags and are $21. Kind of pricey.
@@karinchristensen220 Whoops! You're right about the weight. To get 40 pounds for $20 you need to order through True Value www.truevalue.com/premium-100-organic-alfalfa-pellet-40-lbs
@@racebiketuner $16.00 from C.A.L. Ranch
Cry babies make me chuckle, you're only almost organic there's almost untraceable amounts of something not organic these tree hugging "Karen's" are hilarious
I really appreciate the information I see alfalfa and a lot of organic soil but I never really understood what it was for and why thank you for answering all my questions.
Thanks Bailey! Its just a mentality of feeding the soil to support the plants. Not feeding the plants to spite the soil, which is the current problem with modern agriculture!
Thanks, I'm adding alfalfa meal to my tomato plants that have been in the ground for about 2 weeks now...will scratch into the soil around each plant.
Right on Nancy... Alfalfa is truly a great source of organic nutrients!
Great info, I’ve brought a 50llb sack, plan to use when transplanting and in autumn as an amendment
PS, I’ve used your cup method this year on my tomatoes, no potting up!!! Brilliant, they are going outside Thursday ( England) keep up with great information
Great to hear Tom! Should be a great year for you!
Thank you for this info! i was wondering if it was all the same. the cost difference between alfalfa meal fertilizer, alfalfa pellets reptile bedding, and alfalfa pellets feed is huge! and is all the same stuff! you sir, have earned a subscriber.
Thanks Alarcon! Yeah, it really is the same stuff. They compress the Alfalfa in the same factories and then its packaged for the different industries. I prefer the meal as its easier to spread and mix....but its all the same stuff! You can grow it yourself too! Either as a living mulch or just to harvest and eat/add back to your soils!
I get it by the 10cu/yd load, from a pellet plant here in Arizona, the issue here is the plants have different blends, some different heat levels for horses, our issue here is Burmuda Grass which is the predominate grass grown here locally.
Some blend have Oats, Timothy, Corn, so the pellets, cubes may have grass seed, but it is still such a great compost material, which I do to reduce the germination.
The sprinkling you do is sad compared, at one time I spread 4-6 thick, covered with wood chips, WOW did the worms come.
Great video, thanks a lot. I'm using Alfalfa since this year and I'm very happy with the results.
Thanks Ron! It really excels in those younger plants. Seedlings and transplants. Remarkable results... Good stuff!
The Ripe Tomato Farms Sounds great! I will add it to my soil block mix next time to see for myself 👍🏻
The pellets are eaten by rabbits and other critters, it is horse feed after all. So, to mitigate pellet losses to hungry critters, I'll get a 5-gallon bucket and fill it about 1/3 with pellets and 1/3 of hot tap-water. Wait and stir a few times for about 5 minutes and you should have a "Alfalfa oatmeal" type of mush. I just toss globs of it under bushes/trees, followed by a light watering. Critter nibblin' my pellets problem solved..
Thanks for this information. I purchased a huge bag of alfalfa pellets and added some to my raised beds after my fall harvest. Looking forward to awesome tomatoes this year.
I think you'll do well Beatrice!! Look forward to hearing about your bounty this summer! :-)
Thanks for the info. Definitely gonna incorporate this into my yard and garden plan
Awesome! Alfalfa works well to jump start composts as well!
I’ve been gardening for years and never heard about alfalfa until 2022.
I have been using pellets for the last couple of year but am concerned that the alfalfa may not be organic as it doesn’t say on the package. Do you know. Is most alfalfa grown in North America grown without sprays?
Usually if it doesn't specifically say organic with alfalfa, it likely isn't
I rate this video 10/10.
Alfalfa compost tea kelp and worm castings tea are amazing on my 420 grow. choose one at a time and check which u like better all work amazing 🙌🙌 make sure u ph 😉
Verry interesting, can you give more informations about your compost tea?
I have been using alfalfa hay from Tractor Supply as a mulch for my plants. I noticed it does a great job of keeping moisture in. I am concerned that the very top layer of the hay gets dry and crusty. Do you think that the plants will still get enough air? Thanks for your help!
Normally I find they don't have trouble, but keep an eye on it.... Especially carrots and lettuces.
Thanks for the video, wanting to try in the lawn, will see how that goes.
Cool page dude lots of good information
Thanks Jason, much appreciated!
I am definitely going to get some alfalfa. Thanks! Janice
Cheers Janice! Do give it a try, it's one of the best soil amendments you can use!
I agee have been using it since I saw one of your earlier video's. Does seem to make a difference.
Oh yeah, it really does. I notice it the most in brand new seedlings. I have seen unbelievable growth and vigor. It really does feed the soil!
I use in in my bokishi composting and soil and tea
Next time I'm at the feed store I'll look for this! I'm convinced
Don't forget, if you can't find it, Alfalfa pellets are usually around, even as bulk rabbit food!
Tractor Supply sells alfalfa pellets in 40 and 50 lb bags for around $15. also available at pet stores and online.
I have some old Natural Alfalfa tablets that I'm not taking, Rather than throw them away, I thought I'd toss them around in the garden. The ingredients list is; Alfalfa, Vegetable Cellulose, Calcium Silicate, and Vegetable Magnesium Stearate. Having searched these ingredients, I can see no reason why I couldn't go ahead and use them--is there anything I'm missing?
Seems safe to me... Nothing sticks out
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thanks! I decided to make a tea of it and try it on some parsley in my greenhouse.
Thanks for your great tips. Can you advise best way to grind down the pellets into meal to spread on my 3 week old germination for the growth hormone you said.
Great stuff! Thank you for sharing the vid!
Thanks so much for watching Gerry!
If there are rabbits, deer etc around can the pellets be incorporated into soil a few inches down to stop the animals from eating them? Any other suggestions? Thank you
Definitely Michele! Just mix it in with the top layer of soil or bury it with your mulch to eliminate any tempting of the pests! :-)
I like people who like dogs !!!. all the best to you !.
Agreed! Dog people are the best people!
Great info ! If i soak my alfalfa pellets and turn it to a powder, then mix into the soil in my garden bed, how long should i wait before i can sow my vegetable seeds? Can i do it immediately? Thanks :)
Oh yeah, right away. Alfalfa can't really burn your plants. Good to go!
A great foliar spray is molasses, fish fertilizer liquid very diluted and seaweed. I had squash with 10-15 ft vines. Never had used a foliar spray. 6am or evening. None after blooming.
I am (slowly) expanding and will be building hugelkultur mounds soon. Do you think Alfalfa would be a good cover crop? Chop and drop?
Oh yes, for sure! Alfalfa is the ORIGINAL cover crop! It will work wonders ANYWHERE you place it!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Good to know... now I need to get busy LOL. Thanks as always for your vast knowledge. Much respect my friend
Is alfalfa good in worm bins?
Mine seem to like it!
Going back in time to see some of your alfalfa videos.
Have you ever used a bed to grow it for your mulch?
Just wondering if that would turn out to be a bed disaster for planting vegetables later.
Love that pretty dog, she loves you
I totally have Naomi! In fact, I am looking to jump start my greenhouse beds this winter and I may just plant them with Alfalfa/Clover!
I followed your instructions on making bone meal. Do you think it's possible to grow alfalfa, and simply make your own alfalfa meal? Thank you!
Got a bunch of pellets. I’m will start seedlings tomorrow with it!!
Ok. I know this is a stupid question but... is alfalfa called lucerne sometimes?
How do you know if the Alfalfa wasn't grown with Roundup?
Taste it
Hello, I've just started using alfalfa meal in my seed and potting mixes. My question is how much do I use it large containers for example growing tomatoes in? And would this be enough in terms of fertilising or do I need to fertilize again later on, like when the tomato is fruiting? Thanks!
Hey Stephanie, the great thing about Alfalfa Meal is that you can't over dose it. I try to use it at a 10% ratio though. 1 part Alfalfa Meal to 10 parts soil. :)
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank you, that's good to know!
@@stephanietaraderby8376 cheers Stephanie, no problem! :-)
Great video! Thanks.
I’m wondering if you are aware that straw and hay can have persistent pesticides in them? I noticed that you use it for ground cover.
Yup....everything can in fact. Its why you should choose organic whenever possible....
perhaps making a seed slurry and soaking the seeds before planting
Do you use the alfalfa in addition to bone meal or just one or the other?
bone meal is slow release Alfalfa is fast released when talking about dry Amendment Organics
Arn't you afraid of grazon in the alfalfa if it isn't organic?
How much would I use for 5 gallon pots with about 4 gallons of soil in it?
I bought a bale of alfalfa hay (has straw) thinking the chickens would love it but so far they aren’t crazy about it. I’m thinking I can cut up the bale and use it as mulch, lay it down in the chicken run or add it to my compost pile. How do suggest using a bale of alfalfa?
Hey Sandra, it would be a great addition to your compost pile!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I have been told that a gardener plants tomato plants in alfalfa bales every year. I haven't tried it but it sounds interesting.
Thank you for the video
Can I use this in my carrot beds or will it just make hairy carrots?
I wonder if you could steep Alfalfa meal or the pellets to make a liquid application? For hydroponics.
What about steeping it for a folier spray?
@@bbunderson Why not. Plants take in nutrients for leaves.
Yes you can, warning do it outside because it will smell like a porta potty 🤣🤣🤣 let it steel for 3 days. I use 1 cup per 5 gallons. EXPLOSIVE💥 growth!
Can I use bone meal and blood meal with alfalfa or is that too much? Great video and I’ve smashed the like button!!
Hey Tyson, you definitely can. They all have different nutrient profiles and Alfalfa really is slower release... Shouldn't be any issues there! :-)
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thank you, sir!!
@@tsnstt cheers man. Best of luck, report back with your success!
Great channel!
Thanks Ernesto! Cheers!
What about using alfalfa hay in sold in bales?
I haven't tried that. Be good as a mulch, no question. I like the powder for my potting and seedling mixes though because it doesn't change the consistency.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I would think you would get a lot of seeds.
Still catching up to all your videos. Have you ever used alfalfa as a cover crop or is that a bad idea.
Alfalfa is an amazing cover crop Naomi.... Used worldwide!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I appreciate your response. I'm ordering seeds soon.
@@naomi2646 best of luck!
What brand of alfalfa pellets do you use? Thank you. We love your channel.
There is no brand. Go to a feed store and get some!
Thanks so much susan! I don't really use any brand, I usually use bulk. Otter Corp sometimes, plus I've used Hi-PRO Feeds as well. Cheers!
Feed stores are the best!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I live in Montana. Our local supply has a 50# bag for under $18. Grown locally and sold as horse, rabbit and cow feed. No mention of gardening applications. I will put at least 1 bag in my compost pile this fall and 1 in next spring as I amend soil mix for squash, peppers and toms. Looks like great stuff and has a nice smell when damp. Thanks. Bob
Does rabbit pellets work?
Indeed they do Rick! Essentially the exact same thing! : czcams.com/video/wJL2fRertIg/video.html
Thank you I love to watch your show. I am a beginner garden and appreciate it.
I love you Gangsta Gardener!!!
:-)
❤️❤️❤️
Remember to ask for organic pure alfalfa pellets, it is more expensive, if you can find it. Usually you can find regular alfalfa pellets, cost approximately $16.00-$19.00, but it has been usually been sprayed with something like Roundup. However, organic pure alfalfa is usually between $40.00 or $50.00, and needs to be especially ordered. If you want to stay organic as much as possible, as we do, pure organic alfalfa, not mixed with any other grain like buckwheat, clover or whatever, that is the way to go. It is worth the extra money and effort. BEV.
Definitely Beverley!
If I were to mix the powder with my soil, what would the ratio be? I may have to get pellets because the local shops here don't have the powder. I might get a used blender and chop them up into powder. : )
Hey Ann, I have ground up the pellets with great results. Just be careful because it can be quite dusty. Alfalfa will NOT burn, so you can apply it at any ratio that you want! For me, I have been using it at a ratio of 1lb per 10sq feet of garden bed. For container mix, I'll use it at a 1:10 ratio to amend potting soil. Cheers!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms - Thanks. Jist picked up a 50lb bag from tractor supply today for $16. Can people eat it too?
I have seen videos showing adding pellets and water together and letting it soak until it crumbles, with a little help fore sprinkling it in the garden.
@@carolparrish194 I ended up filling half a 5 gallon bucket up with them (cubes) and filling the rest with water and left it overnight. Then I mixed it with my garden soil. I may try soaking some in hot water soon and giving some to my chickens. Just started snowing tonight here in n.c.
@@annwithaplan9766 usually organic, pure alfalfa pellets or cubes Are a little higher than the none organic. Be sure it's not a blend with something else. Soaking in water over night will give you a tea for adding to some plants also a nice mash to add to others. Be sure and request organic.
Wouldn’t horse manure be the same?
Most alfalfa in the US is now GMO.
At what point do the farmers spray herbicides/glycophosphate on the plants relative to rains and harvesting?
A friend tried alfalfa and contaminated their entire garden. Plants barely grew and produced very little.
And it has a 1/2 life of around 22 YEARS.
crazy squirrel wow, maybe I shouldn’t try it . Always get so many differing opinions . I’m using our grass clippings now that we don’t spray and just starting a garden this year so I don’t want to mess it all up and get discouraged.
While I am not advising against using it I did want to share some information about it.
GMO plants do rot like any other.
If you are nervous about the alfalfa then perhaps you might want to do a small experiment?
Take 2 identical potted plants. Use some alfalfa on one of them. Other will be your 'control' plant.
If the alfalfa one gets stunted, dies, deformed, then you will know that particular batch of alfalfa is bad.
Batches of alfalfa vary from bag to bag, month to month, even with the same company.
Depends on WHEN the batch was harvested and where.
I tried this experiment with 2 tomato plants.
I saw no significant difference one way or the other.
I made a really strong alfalfa tea for the experiment too. 20 times stronger than recommended.
About grass clippings - did you know that if your neighbor is spraying herbicide on their property that the wind can blow it onto your property? I saw that same scenario story on line. Homeowner had to sue the adjacent property owner to get them to bull doze her organic garden and rebuild it.
I don't mean to make you paranoid lol.
Just be suspicious of everything if you want to try something new.
crazy squirrel yes, I do realize it can blow on our lawn, also., those around us don’t spray their lawns, but thanks for the reminder. Very interesting about the alfalfa tea not making any difference on the tomatoes. Thanks for all the info.
Organic non gmo alfalfa is available. New country Organics carries it. I order it on line in 50lb bags. Their a great resource.
@Sound minded Moose: if the bulldozer didn't disinfected the bucket in their last job, all bets are off; cross contaminated happen every second in human events even if I lives in a bubble and read all the actual facts and figures... Can't escape the laws of mother nature or is it mother nature have no natural govern laws
Alfalfa meal and pellets are not the same with microbial life. "I am organic gardening" did a video where he added distilled water and took out the microscope for a look. The microbes had 3 times more activity in the meal than the pellets. Seeing is believing, was suprised.
Saw that and agree... here is the link to that video... czcams.com/video/0C5tPYqjQEA/video.html
Looks more like dirt
Not really, it's green and quite light.. Like flour.
Most of your tomatoes look sick....