Re: CULT: Alfalfa pellets experiments
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: CULT: Alfalfa pellets experiments
- From: M*@fin.gc.ca (Mark, Maureen)
- Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 07:55:34 -0600 (MDT)
I prefer the sprinkle method myself. I generally drop a handful over each =
=
rhizome before a rainfall prior to bloom, again immediately post-bloom for =
re-bloomers and the last treatment after new irises have been planted. I =
did this on only one bed two years ago (about 25 iris) and had great results=
=
so I treated all the beds last year and got Immortality to re-bloom for the =
=
first time. Growth and vigor was great and no rot. Last year's problem was=
=
a lot early frosts resulting in malformed stalks and flowers. This year was =
=
the best bloom for my TBs in years, despite the cool spring followed by hot =
=
dry weather.
Maureen
mark.maureen@fin.gc.ca
Ottawa (zone 4) -- thunderstorm last night, with more rain to come
----------
From: LMann76543
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: CULT: Alfalfa pellets experiments
Date: Thursday, July 3, 1997 8:43
John said
<<Since you said that you were worried about overwatering, it sounds like
the iris are already planted. That being the case, I think alfalfa tea
is better, but then you have the watering problem again. You would just
wait until normal watering time then use the tea instead.>>
I experimented with the pellets a lot last year to see what worked and what=
didn't. Growing conditions here are lots of rain, usually mixed with hot
humid drought spells of a week to several weeks (this year it's mostly just=
been lots of rain).
Here's what I found - hope this helps in high rainfall regions:
Applying the pellets during the summer, after bloom season: last year
o Covering the ground surface with a layer of alfalfa horse pellets - make=
s
a goopy mess even without rain if the soil is wet. Cultivars that are NOT
prone to rot didn't seem to mind, though it made me nervous to see them =
under
all that mess. Dries to a waterproof crust over everything. Eventually
disappears as soil microbes and worms do their thing
o Sprinkling enough to cover about half the ground surface - not quite as
traumatic to the grower, still makes enough goop to cover the ground, but =
not
as thick, and disappears faster.
o Sprinkling "some" - this makes me most comfortable and seems to be
incorporated into the soil almost immediately, if it's rainy weather. I
suggest just sprinkling some on bare ground first and watering it so you ca=
n
get a feel for how much it swells up and how careful you need to be in
spreading it.
Fall, winter, and early spring application:
o No experimenting with amounts, I just walked around with a bucket of the=
stuff and when I saw a plant that looked like it could use a boost, =
scattered
a bit here and there, as if it were concentrated mineral fertilizer.
o On my seedlings, which I start in washtubs, I have sprinkled pellets on
them everytime the previous application is no longer visible. They are =
about
2 ft tall and were growing packed tightly in a tub - about 40? seedlings in=
one of those big galvanized wash/watering tubs (maybe 2 + ft diameter?). I=
just transplanted them a few days ago - they were finally starting to show
signs of stress as it has heated up ( one actually rotted, and a few had a
rotten leaf or two).
Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com east Tennessee USA
I don't think it rained here yesterday. The mud is starting to dry. In th=
e
90s and wretchedly humid.
