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Alfalfa Meal

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

I noticed that Frank recommends alfalfa meal as a good balanced fertilizer.  My
first compost pile is still months away from being able to use it, and I'd like
to get some alfalfa meal for the interim.  I've never seen it in stores...where
would I find it and what kind of quantities should I use?

Mary Thorp
Richmond, IN
Zone 6

"Patricia J. Santhuff" wrote:

> Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
> At 09:18 AM 7/2/99 -0400, Frank wrote:
> >Patricia posted a *few* questions...:-)
>
> Frank, thanks so much. Very helpful (but then I KNEW I could count on
> someone on the list).
>
> >Personally I don't use blood meal and bone meal, preferring compost or
> >alfalfa meal as an N source and rock phosphate as a P source if I need one;
> >alfalfa meal at 5-1-2 is a balanced fertilizer and compost is also.
>
> >Blood meal is a fast acting N source and bone meal carries some risk of the
> >evil bovine spongioform encephalopathy, aka 'Mad Cow Disease'; I prefer slow
> >and steady in the N-delivery department, and not to support factory farming
> >of animals by buying their by-products.
>
> Yes, I did read all that discussion, and definitely plan to be very careful.
> You raise a very good point about not supporting that industry, too. Thanks.
> I've already bought a bunch, so will go ahead and use it -- especially until
> I can use compost more exclusively.
>
> >Cottonseed meal is a fertilizer, primarily an N source and useful for acid
> >loving plants like blueberries and azaleas. In my opinion, it is worthwhile
> >to pay extra for organic cottonseed meal, as the other stuff is laden with
> >pesticide residues...
>
> Oh, pooh. Well, thanks for the heads up on that.
>
> >A good general book on soil is Fertile Soil by Robert Parnes (sorry I don't
> >have the ISBN).
>
> Great -- I'll definitely add that to my library.
>
> >For sources of greensand in Georgia,. I know of Hastings in the Atlanta
> >area, and there must be others including places that will ship it to you....
>
> >Frank---formerly of Maryland, he believes humans have been known to survive
> >and garden south of there, even if he wouldn't consider it....:-)
>
> Well, the red Georgia clay definitely offers its challenges (tho we are
> somehow blessed with some actual non-clay topsoil on our new property), but
> we have a longer growing season that you!   Nahna nana nana. <g>
>
> Thanks again, Frank. I really appreciate the help.
>
> Patricia
> Zone 7b, West Georgia
>
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