Re: CULT: alfalfa/lucerne
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CULT: alfalfa/lucerne
- From: D* B*
- Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 12:09:08 -0500
Just a few words on alfalfa. We started tilling it
and a cotton seed compost into our beds 3 years ago
when we dig and replant. We use 50 lbs. of alfalfa
pellets per 150 square feet of bed. We put on a 2"
layer of the compost (1/4 of what the seller
recommends). Then we till all this in 10 - 12" deep.
We also started solarizing at this time. We fertilize
6 weeks before bloom time with alfalfa tea. The
difference is very noticeable. First of all, at
digging time the treated beds dig much easier. The
soil is much lighter, easier to dig and shake the dirt
off of the roots. The growth in beds with the alfalfa
is faster to start after replanting and still
noticeably better at the end of three years.
Additionally, this year I got some of the beds
fertilized and ran out of time before getting to
others. You can readily tell the difference in the
beds by the amount of increase and health of the
individual plants.
There have been a few drawbacks while using the
alfalfa pellets. First of all, the medians that
always grew like weeds now grow like weeds on
steroids. Second, our alfalfa pellets quite often
have some corn mixed in. I know this is supposed to
be bad but the only problem we have had is that we get
a corn crop coming up in September. <GRIN>
What we have not seen, is any kind of increase in
leaf spot, bugs, dogs, disease, weeds, etc. etc. I
think it is very possible that some of that may be
determined by where your alfalfa comes from and how
pure it is. Our source is good and other than the
fact that they run the alfalfa pellets right after
they run corn (hence the occasional kernel in our mix)
the alfalfa is very pure and clean.
I don't want to step on toes and I have all the
respect in the world for Walter Moores. I firmly
believe that the alfalfa would do just exactly what he
says in a pot and he is correct about the odor of
alfalfa tea (reminds me of when we raised horses).
However, in West Texas, with our low yearly rainfall
and sandy soil alfalfa pellets are a blessing and a
good way to replenish organic matter in your soil.
--
d*@llano.net
Dana Brown
Pres. South Plains Iris Society
Lubbock, TX USA 79401
Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset
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