How To Use Alfalfa Meal In The Garden. A Soil Scientist Look At Alfalfa. | Gardening in Canada

[@debbielavers9836]

This is the first time I’ve heard of alfalfa. Thanks.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh really! That’s crazy. It’s basically rabbit food.

[@maggiemanzke7926]

I've seen lots of other youtube-ers extolling the virtues of alfalfa in the garden. I love your science-based information. Thank you! I have a brand-new raised garden bed for my first year in too long, and I don't plan to use alfalfa meal or pellets. I am in love with compost!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Compost is a huge win!

[@kansasgardener5844]

Use compost in moderation. It can throw your NPK numbers off. I only apply it once every other year or so.

[@chesterhobbs7244]

So many thanks for your straightaway delivery of soil information. You are a fresh blessing for those of us who wish to know the raw basic facts of soil development. I'm from Texas.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s awesome! I’m glad your enjoying

[@daniellebrogden]

Cool! This is completely new to me actually. And I'm so glad my first introduction to alfalfa came from you👏🏽 I've grown the sprouts though. They're yummy

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s awesome I love when someone learns something new! And the sprouts are delicious

[@brianseybert2189]

Cleared out a lot of questions reguarding alfalfa. Thanks Again!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Awesome!!

[@KatePeterson-b2w]

Really appreciate all of the info

[@amyplants8455]

Love this channel! One thing that wasn’t mentioned is that rodents love alfalfa. I put some pellets in a pepper pot when I transplanted and I had mice going in through the drain holes to dig it out! Big mess.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh yes rodents would love the alfalfa. And that’s so much I’m glad you’re enjoying

[@gabriellakadar]

@@GardeningInCanada I used alfalfa cubes this summer to make a fermented tea for watering the brassicas and tomatoes. I also left cubes out in a small plant pot. We have lots of mice and voles and nobody ate any of the alfalfa. I've left the cubes out under shelter but open to see if winter conditions prompt the critters to eat the cubes. Recently I picked up a savoy cabbage that the voles ate out the core. Beautiful round hole. I literally picked it up because it was no longer attached to the root. I told my boyfriend that we get to eat vole leftovers. And we did. Cleaned, shredded, and stir fried.

[@juliencomeault3709]

Used the pellets in a potting mix (Subcool's super soil recipe) years back. Was surprised to find no visual evidence they'd ever been there some 4 months latter. The pellets had been utterly "metabolized" into the potting mix. I found the mix with the alfalfa produced inferior yields to the controls (same potting mix sans alfalfa pellets). I've often wondered if the microbial breakdown of the pellets generated more warmth than the roots would have liked.

[@rhino1393]

I started to use it in a potting mix and the mix got warm and cooked for a couple days must have got the microbes excited

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh really! Ahahah yup that’s a good sign!

[@danakrueger7833]

I like your advice of switching off every other year. I might try a little this year and see how it works on my garden.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea! Absolutely

[@lisakukla459]

This is super timely, and I love the way you dig into topics in a sciency way. It's a refreshing change from the anecdotal flavor of typical gardening videos. I started using alfalfa pellets in my potting mix this year, and I'm seeing what happens with a compost tumbler full of 2 parts pine pellets:1 part alfalfa pellets. I've got some tomato plants in 5gal buckets (I hate it but I'm in a pinch so I had to improvise) and thought it would be a good idea to put the drainage holes 2" up the sides, since containers dry out so quickly. Terrible idea. The whole place smells like alfalfa-scented ammonia now. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I added a little of a product called Bio-Live to each, thinking maybe the microbes would help bring it into balance, but I'm probably going to have to drill new holes at the bottom to fix this, yes? Or is there something else going on entirely? I'm hoping it's the water/oxygen thing and not that I added too much alfalfa, but if I need to mix up more potting soil without pellets and kind of "dilute" the buckets, I will. It's already been a disaster of a growing season thanks to some aminopyralid/2,4-D contaminated compost and I could use an easy fix right now. (But I am doing some remediation experimentation which has been pretty interesting - and I'll probably be eating a lot of garlic chives this summer as a result)

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh that sounds like too much water and not enough air. Holes are a must and maybe consider mixing in more perlite next time.

[@lisakukla459]

@@GardeningInCanada Okay that's good news. I put more holes and flushed out the yucky water today. The smell is gone for now, hopefully for good. I might remove the mulch temporarily and let the soil dry out a tad more than I otherwise would before watering again. It'd be helpful if it would stop raining every freaking day. Be careful what I wish for, I know, I know. 🙂

[@racebiketuner]

Hi Lisa. It's really not practical to "fix" compost or container mix once it gets stinky. You're really better off starting over. Dump the old stuff in a shady spot, cover it with a thick layer of shredded leaves other organic matter and keep it moist. Should be ready for use after one year of this treatment.

[@bitTorrenter]

​@@GardeningInCanada Is applying perlite widespread in your soil across your garden/yard advisable? I have clay soil but the soil is largely fertile has a dark colour. It's just that it sinks down, compacts very easily. I'm wondering whether Perlite would change that much.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for watching here is an Amazon affiliate link for alfalfa fertilizer geni.us/lD80i But you can honestly get this stuff almost anywhere including pet stores in the rabbit food isle.

[@jenniferrea1609]

I use alfalfa pellets for my roses (I follow Fraser valley rose farms on you tube, he recommended it last year, worked great) may try it as a mulch in my flower beds.

[@GardeningInCanada]

It does work well for roses that’s forsure!

[@michaelmcdowell6792]

Just applied Alfalfa Meal to wide variety of fruit trees, peppers. blue berries, shrubs, pine and cedar seedlings in South FL sandy soil. Wise woman once said "experiment" so I did. Top dressed and watered in We shall see.

[@Randy_Smith]

I've used the pellets in my compost for a couple of years with great results. During the fall and winter I don't have access to a lot of "greens" and mixing in some soaked pellets when I turn the pile helps keep the temps up.

[@jackriley7967]

I have been using alfalfa pellets in my rose garden for several years. I have not seen any problems so far. Even hear about the auto toxic before. Thank you I will start rotating my use of it from year to year.

[@GardeningInCanada]

You may not see the auto toxin if it is in a rose garden actually. Mostly because your aren’t starting from seed, your starting from the root/perennial plant.

[@markalford5406]

I’ve been using pellets every year, also cover my beds with leaves in the fall and add chicken poop every year. Crops grow well.

[@SL-pr1lw]

I’ve heard of alfalfa meal but wasn’t sure what it was used for! Are you planning on doing videos on the other products in that Gaia Green line like kelp meal, blood meal and bone meal too? It would be so interesting to learn about all those different soil additives and what they’re for and how to use them properly!

[@TriCombStudio]

I have used Gaia products since the 90s

[@GardeningInCanada]

I didn’t even know they were that old!

[@GardeningInCanada]

And absolutely I can! Great video ideas.

[@TriCombStudio]

@@GardeningInCanada I don't know when they started but a farmer that worked for Humpty Dumpty chips got my family using their products in 91 or 92?? Can't remember its been so long ago...

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s insane! I love that

[@growingoutthebox]

Very useful info as always.

[@hilaryrich9280]

What about herbicides in the alfalfa pellets from when it’s grown getting into your garden?

[@yahushaismyshepherd1179]

Think your right about dry year. Going to be bad for forest fires.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh it’s going to be horrible... I don’t think people realize...

[@laurabehenna7950]

Thank you for the science based information. One thing puzzles me: given that alfalfa products are fed to animals of varying sizes, I was under the impression that alfalfa was a high-nutrient foodstuff? So would manure/compost from animals that have been fed a lot of alfalfa also make for a low-nutrient, non-fertilizer type of soil amendment? That would be inferior to homemade compost made from leaves, kitchen scraps, and garden waste?

[@ACryin_Shame]

Thank you so much, i used this on my beds a few months ago. I have been waiting for your opinion!!

[@ACryin_Shame]

Just starting watching now, either way your opinion goes, i appreciate it!

[@ACryin_Shame]

I used this in both a couple sandy beds from last year and a clay bed i started at my MILS house. I flipped the grass and then tilled it with alfalfa pellets and last year fall leaves. Also added 10 10 10 slow release, then a last of cost and top soil. that was a month ago and in the beds is going my tomatoes, peppers and melon/ or cucumber plants

[@GardeningInCanada]

Sounds perfect! You should see awesome results ❤️

[@roncatlin7271]

i have been using alfalfa for years in my compost as an accelerant, along with drunk compost, and at planting time. it has always worked magically. i have never planted alfalfa as a cover crop though because pellets are cheap and so convenient. i guess i haven't noticed the toxicity of alfalfa because i don't really grow legumes productively, they've always been cover crops and i just don't monitor cover crops actively. thanks for the heads up. i guess it's time to move on to layer feed crumbles :)

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

We try to use the living organic matter version of a material by growing it, and any living plant grown as a cover must be something that, if it self seeds, we would eat what it makes. We end up using radishes as a cover, although we are still putting everything in place, so everything grows together efficiently.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Did you use just regular radish? Or diakon

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

We have around ten varieties, including daikon, and a few saved seeds that are a mix of the ones we grew in previous seasons. Some of them are coming up with red and purple bulbs, and we have a few varieties in each spot so they mix together better.

[@gfutube1]

I started using alfalfa pellets last year when I got a 50 pound bag. I thought it was safe and offered about 2-1-1 fertilization. I just spread it on the surface of my raised beds and other bed areas for flowers and some veggies and berries. I don’t know if it made a growth difference.

[@bryanmoir3184]

Great information. Can you comment on whether it makes a difference if the alfalfa is turned into meal prior to flowering? There are those that argue that meal is better because it is made prior to flowering vs pellets which are made after and therefore the carbon to nitrogen ratio is higher than the meal. (early cut vs late cut) Thoughts?

[@bryanmoir3184]

Papers courtesy of Google & ChatGPT 1)"Evaluation of Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizer from Alfalfa Pellets and Meal" (S.A. Ebelhar et al., 1979): This study compared the release of nitrogen from alfalfa pellets and meal over time. It found that alfalfa pellets provided a slower release of nitrogen compared to alfalfa meal, suggesting that pellets could be beneficial for sustained nutrient supply to plants. 2)"Effects of Pelleted Alfalfa on Soil and Plant Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations" (E.B. Mallarino et al., 1987): This study examined the effects of alfalfa pellets on soil and plant nutrient concentrations, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus. It found that alfalfa pellets resulted in higher soil nitrogen levels and increased plant nitrogen uptake compared to alfalfa meal. 3)"Comparison of Alfalfa Hay and Pellets as Organic Nitrogen Sources for Vegetable Production" (E. Oyinlola et al., 2016): This study investigated the use of alfalfa hay and pellets as organic nitrogen sources for vegetable production. It found that both forms of alfalfa were effective in improving soil fertility and promoting vegetable growth, with alfalfa pellets providing a more sustained release of nutrients.

[@karenmorton2112]

Thankyou, such valuble information

[@milkweed7678]

Interesting video. Just started hearing about using it this winter. You say it could be used as a natural herbicide? How thick could it be on the ground to get any benefit as a weed suppressant?? Thanks!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea that’s a great way of putting it. It would need to be relatively thick I would estimate over a half inch. Something similar to a regular mulch.

[@elenarepka]

Before people rush out to buy the pellets, if you buy the animal feed version, it contains weeds seeds. You need to buy the ones that have been heat treated. Or alternatively, you can make a tea. There is a Canadian company in Saskatchewan that makes organic pellets of both varieties.

[@davekendk89]

what would be your thoughts on using Alfalfa instead of peat moss when filling a new raised bed.

[@dymondwillow2]

Another garden group touts this method of preparing the spring soil.... by broadcasting the pellets over the bed. And he has added them into his pots on top.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I don’t see any issues with that. I don’t think it’s going to work absolute miracles but also isnt a bad addition

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

I messed around with triacontanol dissolved in tween-20. I noticed that it can cause peppers to fork earlier than they naturally would. it's really hard to get the dosage right and its hard to deliver the molecule to the plant since its a wax. i applied it to some potted citrus and got extremely large leaves on my mandarin. hard to know what it will do and hard to know how much you are actually dosing. its a common agricultural PGR in Asia and I believe that ag companies have studied it to understand the right application rate and with a surfactant to help deliver the compound. from my research many plants need 0.01-1 ppm which is really low. in the end I gave up because the process is annoying to solubilize and I got inconsistent results.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Did you use the powder form? I’m not sure the stuff wildly available to regular ppl is as effective.

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

@@GardeningInCanada yeah. I boiled it into a surfactant (tween-20/polysorbate-20) and then slowly added that to greater and greater volumes of warm distilled water until I got to my desired stock concentration. it forms an unstable emulsion which starts crashing out within a week or so. the surfactant helps carry it into the plant as well and is non-toxic to plants if you don't exceed 0.05% w/v and make sure to apply it when leaf temperatures are not expected to exceed 75-80degF. There is a Canadian company that makes a popular triacontanol product derived from bee hive waste that is quite popular called "massive bloom" for the cannabis industry - bloom boosters are snake oil but the product does seem to have the growth stimulating properties of TRIA from my experiments. ironically, the "bloom booster" is best applied to younger plants to get them to mature faster and to develop a better plant structure prior to fruiting. still, its hard to find good protocols on how to use the growth stimulant because every plant I've tried it on responds differently.

[@leafylotus]

Hi Ashley. Thank you for the video. I put alfalfa meal on my plants and I’m not too sure if it worked! My run off got super dark and the plant uh....started going down hill.

[@GardeningInCanada]

How much did you add? One thing I didn’t mention in the video but maybe an issue for some people (depending on the supplier) is the build up of herbicides.

[@leafylotus]

@@GardeningInCanada about a cup as an amendment to a 3 gallon pot. Does alfalfa affect pH?

[@GardeningInCanada]

No it’s neutral so that’s nice

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@GardeningInCanada]

❤️❤️❤️

[@derekcox6531]

For a number of years I’ve been using alfalfa pellets in my compost along with shredded cardboard. It’s been a sort of long term experiment to see what kind of consistency I get within my compost bin. (So far I’ve really been happy with my results). The question I have is do you have any specific knowledge about whether or not this toxicity you mentioned,would persist through the composting process? My concern, I suppose, is that in my small garden the ‘toxic’ effect of alfalfa might emerge sooner than the 8 or so years that you mention here. Or am I just missing your point entirely and being concerned for no reason?

[@GardeningInCanada]

No it won’t be in present in a compost. It’s an organic compound so it will breakdown in a situation where you have high levels of organic material.

[@johac7637]

The real deal is, the C/N ratio, if you look at compost starter, 90+ % alfalfa meal, aka fine ground alfalfa. I've been priveledge to live/garden near 3 alfalfa pellet plants, only 1 was green processed, 2 converted hay, the plants have cull piles from spills, wets issues, dusts from the driers, I get that by the 10 yard loads, also this lastest plant is in the arid area of Arizona Desert, the weeds, plant growth around this pile is crazy, from leaching of the Monsoon rains. Good sign. I have got a garden, orchard that is the, " hey go see..." garden, it sure changed my poor dirt to soil, wish I could share a before, after soil sample, even have mushrooms after watering, soil organics went from 2% to now 19% in just 3 years, that my success story, sticken to it, and keep giving veggies, fruits to a Food bank.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That's really interesting! i enjoyed this comment

[@trollforge]

I had never heard of this as a practice, but have done it... sort of. 30 years ago I got a half a pallet of water damaged "Horse Treat" alfalfa cubes for nothing, and I applied that as mulch that year. I have also spread spoiled "Rabbit Pellets" as a "fertilizer" a couple times. but never took any notice of whether they were of any benefit, just using up free resources.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s awesome! At least you didn’t just throw them out

[@trollforge]

@@GardeningInCanada I rarely just throw anything out...

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s good!

[@dodopson3211]

Ella is so cute 😊 You also have dogs right? Why don't they try to eat the bird.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Because the bird is the mean one and her bit is not nice

[@Willie-bq6ry]

What if I used ammo nitrate for 3 years for all of my vegetables plants and start using alfalfa pellets will that harm the soil and plants

[@TriCombStudio]

Molasses being a natural binder used frequently. Which I use in the garden anyways... Lol. I found my alfalfa meal cheaper to buy the alfalfa pellets for rabbit feed.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh that’s an awesome suggestion!

[@chefe2152]

Where do you get that? I was in my local garden center and asked for it,they were kind of weird looking at me like they never seen it before.

[@dymondwillow2]

buy it in the animal feed section....

[@GardeningInCanada]

Look in the rabbit section specifically 😂

[@treetop1491]

Thanks for all your helpful tips. One question, my radishes did not bulb, my fault, extremely high fertilized soil. If I leave them in the soil will I still be able to get seed pods or is it done🍂?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Is there no bulb at all? Or just a small “bulb”

[@treetop1491]

@@GardeningInCanada No bulb at all... not even one.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh 😢 I don’t think it will work then you need something every just a tap root.

[@treetop1491]

@@GardeningInCanada thank you very much! See you on your next informative video.

[@wildedibles819]

Rabbit alfalfa pellets are different than garden alfalfa Rabbits alfalfa meal mix is harvested at highest protein levels they can get out of it Garden alfalfa is harvested when the nitrogen is high before flowers and fruit apear so its high in nitrogen etc rather than protein I have added rabbits bedding with too much wasted pellets and it can putrify the ground trying to break down that protein With this alfalfa fad i don't want people buying up rabbits food for their gardens ;) It should be put through a rabbit first lol Much love xoxox

[@GardeningInCanada]

THANK YOU! Haha your so speedy. I was like AH! I don’t know I need wild edibles

[@wildedibles819]

@@GardeningInCanada the garden variety is awesome Rabbit pellets Rabbits food first I discussed this with another channel but can't remember who? But they explained the protein part And I remember you talking about protein if too much it's not good at all And realized when it did happen it was not good like I expected it to be It will rot first before being available for plants right? Then the plants can actually rott in this process Thanks for helping me put this all together;) Much love xoxox

[@ganbinocanfly]

@@wildedibles819 Alfalfa meal is going to go through the same process of breaking down as a pellet will. The pellets are literally made with the exact same thing, except the pellets are sometimes pre-fermented and bound together using feed molasses. The nitrogen is the exact same as is the percentage of protein. The only difference is in the processing. I should mention that alfalfa is a very quick, which also means hot, composter. It will break down very fast in the soil, and will heat up your soil while it breaks down. It is one of the only organic amendments that will actually burn your plants, if you are not careful.

[@wildedibles819]

@@ganbinocanfly its not exactly the same tho alfalfa meal made for the garden is harvested at the exact time that nitrogen would be at the highest And rabbit pellets are alfalfa that is harvested for the protein so after the legumes form which are harvested for the protein Look into cover crops For nitrogen the cover crop should be tilled in before any legumes form ;)

[@wildedibles819]

@@ganbinocanfly and rabbit pellets are not just alfalfa theres other minerals and other stuff added for complete nutrition where alfalfa meal for the garden should just be alfalfa Thanks for your time Much love xoxox

[@kgonzales321]

Have you done or have you seen a NPK (etc) analysis of various home/DYI mulching or "weed wine" (soaking a drum/bucket-full of weeds with water for months, leaching out the nutrients)? It seems to me so far, "the yuckier the better" when it comes to plants, soil amendments and mirco-critter growth/happiness. However, I've never seen any real data..

[@GardeningInCanada]

I havent no. i dont have the equipment for this but one day

[@howard8853]

Other KZbinrs gardening channels espouse the benefits of anaerobic breakdown of weeds in a water filled bucket. However, another of Ashley’s videos has indicated that anaerobic materials cannot be added to the garden since they are toxic. Other KZbin gardening channels have suggested aerating the anaerobic brew to kill the anaerobic microbes. However, I wonder if this would kill the toxins produced by the anaerobic bacteria. I’ve never tried this method.

[@kareninsask1375]

Is alfalfa high in nitrogen. Is it good for root crops like beets or carrots? Or mostly for above ground crops?

[@GardeningInCanada]

It will work with nearly anything my hesitation would be with the legume family

[@janinebean4276]

Would you recommend it for indoor plants?

[@GardeningInCanada]

to be honest i think it would be to heavy

[@janinebean4276]

@@GardeningInCanada thanks!

[@claygreen4723]

Alfalfa is basically animal manure without the animal. Especially if you ferment it into tea, which is exactly what cattle do with it.

[@wyominggundogs9289]

I had a Senegal parrot. His name was Deuce, because of his split personalities.

[@GardeningInCanada]

HAHA sounds like a typical bird

[@janinebean4276]

If you were to recommend a “recipe” for a sustainable gentle fertilizer mix what would you use? I’ve been poring over my Canadian organic/sustainable fertilizer mix options and there are honestly none that I can find that don’t use some kind of fossil fuel/products like potash or peat, so I was thinking of making my own mix from bulk ingredients that I feel more comfortable using, like alfalfa meal, kelp meal, wood ash, soybean meal, worm castings, manure, etc. I would prefer not to use animal byproducts because I’m vegetarian and I don’t love touching stuff like that, but I would probably be willing to try if it’s just a byproduct, not a primary animal product, and it would make a big difference.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I would just use vermicast it's basically an all in one. I am going to be doing a video/have done reels on my instagram about a great option. its called soil booster and its vermicast product from trash in the GTA.

[@janinebean4276]

@@GardeningInCanada great, thank you! 🥰

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

Unless you're using 4-legged animals and a wooden cart you built from lumber from your own forest to pick up all those 'organic' ingredients, you're unlikely to be saving the planet or reducing your environmental footprint. It's all transported on trucks, planted, tilled and harvested with petroleum-powered machines, fertilized using petroleum-based fertilizers, petroleum-based pesticides and so forth.

[@bigrich6750]

I’ve heard that pellets have less NPK than meal. Is this true in your opinion?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I don’t know any reason for why it would have less and PK. Logically they would have the identical amounts pretty much. The only thing I have heard is that the micro organisms and mill are higher than that of the pallets.

[@bigrich6750]

@@GardeningInCanada thanks

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely anytime!

[@Spenceham-km3nv]

hey guys what would happen if someone used the sea cucumber DNA and the millipede DNA to fill in the gaps of every farm animals genomes

[@ZE308AC]

You ever try to grow walking onions?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I haven’t no but I would love too.

[@ZE308AC]

@@GardeningInCanada it's my first time growing this. I just planted the bulbs at the top of the walking onion plant. I hope i get more plants. I would recommend growing some walking onions. Best of luck to growing walking onions.

[@johac7637]

Looking at this the second time, it's more than peat, it's organics, don't see "earthworms" thriving in "peat" amendments, the earthworms do thrive in pellets that are breaking down, the science here is far beyond what you're thinking here, there is no " one size fits all" as a Sask farmer you are seeing the benefits of " no til" as you are returning organics to the soils, no matter the organics, but the real thing to look at is "legumes" being the one of a few plants that make the "N" from the atmosphere, here in AZ we get soils from under "Mesquite" trees, as they too fix N and drop it with it's leaves. It's all about soil health, keeping the cycle of plant life going. I plant several Legumes plants in combo every season, lightly til, and have great soil microbes, as soil samples and worm activity are showing. When we get our Monsoons the water is not running off now, it's entering the soil now.

[@DzMSE]

How can I buy transgenic alfalfa seeds in Canada? Can you give me the contact details of the seller? Thank you

[@robertschappert6760]

A milk cow can live on it for it's whole life that's 1200 pound animal ....think about that

[@godinhabitspraise3746]

Exactly....

[@nomanejane5766]

wish I could compost, got sneaky lil racoon thiefs in my area

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahah raccoon thief’s are kinda cute though

[@erikaboyer4125]

I e see. So many claims that alfalfa is some kind of miracle with plant growth hormones etc.. thanks for clarification .. I would hate to be one to perpetuate another garden myth

[@kmoney14141]

Want to get to the point please

[@gardeningjunkie2267]

You absolutely cannot plant directly into alfalfa without burning your plants. I have experienced this firsthand. It heats up so much that I in fact add it to my compost pile just to jumpstart it and keep it hot throughout the winter.

[@JWHealing]

Oooooh good info. Thanks! I'd like my compost to stay active this winter so looks like I'll be adding alfalfa to it.

[@DJizz]

💯 I burned cannabis plant 3 years ago with alfalfa alone. Not sure why she made these claims???

[@gardeningjunkie2267]

@@JWHealing Add only a little at a time, every week

[@shanecydrus6591]

Came to learn about alfalfa and quickly learned this was a video about your damn bird

[@GardeningInCanada]

Sorry, she can be a pain some days

[@berndtherrenvolk1951]

WC Fields: "Never work with children or animals." (They always steal the scene.)

[@scottsmith507]

This needs to be looked at with microscope. Watched on another channel where rehydrated both with distilled water and looked at 400 magnification with camera in eyepiece. Lot more microbial activity in the meal than pellets.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh really! Now that’s interesting but i believe that. I wonder if after the pellets are hydrated if the microbes increase

[@scottsmith507]

@@GardeningInCanada both were organic, weighed dry and same amount of distilled water added. Let sit for 3 hours to rehydrate. This would be good to see if this could be repeated. He said meal provided nutrition analysis but the pellets didnt.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Very interesting

[@scottsmith507]

@@GardeningInCanada I am organic gardening alfalfa meal vs alfalfa pellets. If you want to check it out.

[@scottsmith507]

Is.it look for a slide that makes your point?

[@AB-iz2fp]

you just sit there and talk, need to show