This simple recipe is all you need to fertilize your precious roses. This organic compost tea no synthetics! Information on where to buy these items appears below, followed by the recipe. Make sure the pellets do not contain molasses or sugar which may attract ants or the alfalfa containing genetically modified organisms GMOs or enriched with vitamins.
Alfalfa assists in new growth; it provides nitrogen. Fish and seaweed liquid fertilizers can be bought at most nurseries. Use plain Epsom salts that can be found at most pharmacies. Use is optional, though, and is needed only once or twice a year depending on salt content in soil. Native Bay Area soils are known to be naturally high in salt, so have your soil type tested by a lab to better understand its mineral content.
Alfalfa meal can be worked into the soil around rose bushes. Normally one cupful per large rose bush and about one-half cup for miniatures is recommended. Alfalfa meal is also contained in many commercial organic products e. Mills Magic Mix because of its beneficial components. Alfalfa pellets can be used instead of the meal by again working the pellets into the soil around roses. The pellets will soon break down with watering or by rain to slowly release the trace minerals, triaconatol, and other important nutrients.
Alfalfa pellets come in many sizes, depending on the animal for which they were intended. Alfalfa pellets for horse feed are much larger than similar pellets for rabbits. To make alfalfa tea, put about eight to ten cups of alfalfa meal or pellets into a 30 gallon plastic garbage can, almost fill the can with water, cover and let bake in the sun for three to five days. Stir daily to make sure that the extraction process is well underway and to disperse any organic matter that has risen to the top of the water.
Eventually, the water extract will take on an orange color and the fibrous organic material will settle on the bottom of the garbage can.
Since I usually make alfalfa tea in the early and late summer, the water often gets very hot in the covered garbage can. For that reason, I try to put out the tea early in the morning. But if I have to put out the tea after work, then filling the garbage can to near the top with the cool water from the hydrant helps cool down the tea and prevents damaging tender roots.
I learned this lesson the hard way, by filling the garbage can up all the way at the beginning and burning some roots on my bushes when I applied the tea in the late afternoon without adding cooler water first. Now, I always leave room to add 5 or more gallons of fresh water to fill the can and cool the contents before applying morning or afternoon.
You can also fortify your alfalfa tea by adding additional ingredients before serving your tea. As with a regular fertilization program, give a gallon of the tea to large roses and about one-half gallon to miniature and mini-flora roses.
Be careful not to stir up the organic material on the bottom as you dip out the tea. Real alternate of synthetic fertilizers; best for organic farming; keeps alive poor farmers; needs capacity building to develop awareness and trust building among farmers.
I used an alfalfa tea last year and it improved the health of my roses that were yellowing early in the season. Seems like we had the blooms ever too.
Email Address we never show this. There are several vegetable crops that can be grown throughout the winter months. Depending on your area, you may need to cover with frost blankets or Read More. By using traditional storage techniques, you can look forward to home-grown vegetables throughout winter, such as parsnips, potatoes and winter squash.
Some root crops can be Sign in to your account. Ecommerce Software by Shopify. A theme by Pixel Union. Menu Login Sign up. Comments 2 Comments Real alternate of synthetic fertilizers; best for organic farming; keeps alive poor farmers; needs capacity building to develop awareness and trust building among farmers.
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