What are some goodies you've added (or could add) to alfalfa tea?

15 years ago

Since the JBs destroyed my spring flush before I could enjoy it, I wanna try to get a 2nd flush before fall. I just fed them with alfalfa tea, but decided for the 2nd dose, I'm gonna add some goodies for them. Because the beds are nice and full right now, scratching in Rost Tone will be a pain, so I was thinking of just applying it with the alfalfa tea. If that's OK, how much do I add to a 19 gallon barrel?

My next thought was superphosphorus. Why not add some of that, too? I know I'm over doing it a bit, but maybe I can get those roses back to budding.

What do you usually add?

Thanks!

~MH

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Comments (8)

mike_rivers
15 years ago
Rose Tone is about 30 to 40% by weight synthetic fertilizer elements, all of which are water soluble and might do some good when mixed with alfalfa tea but the remaining 60 to 70% of Rose Tone is organic and should really be scratched into the soil, as per the label. Rose Tone is about 10% triple superphosphate by weight, so you wouldn't need to add more of this element. Personally, if I wanted to experiment with pick-me-ups mixed with alfalfa tea, I'd stick to completely water-soluble fertilizers like Miracle Gro if I thought more fertilizer was called for, or I'd try things like fish or seaweed extracts or Biotone.
mehearty
Original Author
15 years ago
Fabulous information, Mike. Thank you so much!

BTW, can I just tell everyone what's grosser than pulling off the cover of alfalfa tea and getting a whiff? Pulling of the cover, getting a whiff and seeing dead, colorless slugs floating on the top.
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Understand that alfalfa tea, Epsom salts and fish emulsion all supply plant nutrients (i.e., they are fertilizers). Whether you need them singly or in combination depends a great deal on your existing soil conditions and how well your plants are growing. As an example, a garden with good soil conditions and one that receives liberal and frequent doses of a good organic mulch may never require ANY supplemental fertilization. I've have never found any documentation other than anecdotal reports that Epsom salts supplies anything of significant merit (very few garden soils are magnesium deficient) so that's one I'd skip. The alfalfa tea is good organic source of nitrogen and also contains a natural growth hormone that can encourage additional stem development -- it can't hurt if applied in moderation. I used to raise rabbits and used their manure - partially digested alfalfa - in much the same manner to great effect. But it is not a product you should continue to apply throughout the season, whereas you could certainly do so with the fish emulsion or any other multipurpose liquid fertilizer. Typically, the recommendation is to fertilize clems at the same time you prune them which is right about now :-) FWIW, alfalfa tea will ferment and become anaerobic if made in large batches and stored and it has minimal effect as a foliar spray. Make what you need now as a soil drench and wait to make up more until you need it. You can also mash up the alfalfa pellets and apply them dorectly to the soil in spring or at planting time. Alfalfa begins to decompose very quickly and can generate a lot of heat when it does so be sure to keep the pellets away from tender roots. This is not a concern with the tea.
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I'm so sorry that no one has answered your question and you posted back in June!!! Here is my personal experience with alfalfa tea which I have been using all summer for the past 2 seasons: Yes you can add the sludge to the compost. I personally just plop it around the base of my roses, wait till it dries out some and then kind of scratch it around. It's not that pretty to look at but, whatever, it doesn't bother me any and it's *MY* garden and my roses seem to like it;) As for the smell, well, I don't think there is too much you can do about that. I've noticed that the smell usually dissipates within a few hours. I do have almost a 3/4 acre lot with all my neighbors having roughly the same so we aren't sitting on top of one another. Most people have their windows closed and the a/c on during the summer anyway. None of my neighbors have ever said a word about the smell and trust me, a few of them are close enough to me friend-wise that they would certainly feel comfortable letting me know that they could smell it. Unless you have a real picky neighbor who just looks for excuses to hammer you over something, I don't think it would be an issue. I hope I've helped but then again, this late in the season, you've probably learned much just through personal experience with the tea. Have a great rest of the summer:) Michelle
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Thanks everyone! I accidentally made a bunch of compost tea, as well, so I'll mix a bit into that and spray the whole bush and use a little bit around the plants. I'm also wondering how I can store in or if it has to be actively fermenting to have benefit. Bart, AT is a fermented brew made by mixing either alfalfa hay or pellets in water and letting it brew for as long as you like. It ferments in the heat and stinks! I have been using the hay in my planting holes and as a top dressing to help the soil and encourage root growth as it contains a natural root stimulant in addition to high N. I would think it could help your soil. I used it recently, along with compost and leaf mold to stuff pre-dug holes for later planting and it really helped soften my alkaline clay. I've been very impressed with it. Of course, it's hard to OD on the hay. We can buy it here in feed stores.
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Prettypetals_GA_7-8
15 years ago
I have started adding fish emulsion to my brew. This is my first year with roses and have just started with the alfalfa with great results. Someone on here said to add fish emulsion to it also so I did. I hope thats OK. They also said to add epsom salt but didn't have any so I didn't add it. Judy
gardenfanatic2003
15 years ago
Epsom salt, fish emulsion, kelp.

Deanna
mehearty
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Ladies. Keep 'em coming. I'm curious what brews people come up with.

Some year I'll try fish emulsion. I have so much gardening stuff on the shevles, I have to at least try to use some of what I've got.
barbarag_happy
15 years ago
Nothing, as my soil tests in all 3 gardens show plenty of magnesium. If I needed Mg, I'd add epsom salts from Wal-Mart. ONCE I bought Espoma's epsom salts and the darned stuff wouldn't dissolve, grrrrr
mexicanhat
15 years ago
MeHearty, put in a frozen fish and let it ripen, just for old times sake.

(Why can't I find that old, wonderful post about a favorite forumite adding a frozen fish to his alfalfa tea? That used to make me laugh until I cried.)

I added banana peels to the tea a few times, but the smell will darned near kill 'ya as they ferment.
mehearty
Original Author
15 years ago
Mexicanhat, my stomach just turned imagining that. lol

What are some goodies you've added (or could add) to alfalfa tea?

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mike_rivers

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What are some goodies you've added (or could add) to alfalfa tea?

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mike_rivers

meheartyOriginal Author

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