Alfalfa : Natural and fresh

[JackTheGrower]

Well this one lady is a nice one... I've told her she is in the 1% category.

That 1% I wish I could meet more often... Now to figure out how to make her the right kind of naughty for me...




Organic soil will always be a passion for me... I know because it's been a passion since I was five in one form or another.


I was hoping to make another batch of alfalfa liquid and spray it in the green manure I'm growing but the bioactivity in my soil is just wicked. I underestimated the amount of time needed to re-fire the soil this last time and now that I have soaked it after a couple months of letting it sit, it has been going strong and even today it's 95 F

I guess it's about mixing a new batch of liquid for the catnip then.

 

[Guest]

Wow - This is good news

I have at least 100 acers of Alf growing 3 miles from my location.. Its getting harvested by the farmers right now.. Gonna get a truck load tonight to add to my composting area & add some to a liquid meal.

 

[JackTheGrower]

I'm keeping about a large ziplock bag and a half in the fridge and it is keeping well.


I plucked mine from the extreem edge of the field. What I considered the weed zone and not the main field.

I was mindful to not take from the man's harvest but to pull out of the weedy edge.

I trust they wouldn't mind. I doubt they will mow that weed patch.

 

[Guest]

In my excitement I over judged needing a truck load

Although the compost pile could fit it

Seems the best field (farthest away from farmer Billy Bob & his shottie) was Clover on the one side & Alfalfa on the other..

Spent 1.5hr hand picking Clover & got a 25gal trash bag filled - introduced to my compost today..

Even a fleet of truck loads would not hurt Billy Bob's stash..



But hand picking that much will take some time..

 

[JackTheGrower]

It's been a few days since I watered with the Alfalfa liquid.

I have kept my eye on a damaged area of my catnip plant.

The Before shot shows the damage by some insect





The After shot shows new veg growth.









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I looked for some links on the subjects if you are interested in reading more.

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http://www.cannabis-world.org/cw/showthread.php?p=1923


From a web page related to roses http://www.gardenvalley.com/alfalfa.html

"As it disintegrates, alfalfa yields an alcohol called triacontanol to which roses take a particular shine. When it reaches their roots, roses act as though they've been aching for a stiff drink and manifest their appreciation with basal breaks, rosarian lingo for new growth emanating from the bud union (the landmark created by budding hybrid roses onto rootstock). We rosarians live in hopes of basal breaks - they're the ticket for increased vigor and floriferousness. An annual mulching with alfalfa virtually guarantees such spirited developments."

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An alcohol and not a fatty acid it would seem is what benefits.

I have seen an improvement in growth where damage has occurred from insects eating my catnip.

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From another web page :
http://hostafaq.westside.com/wsContentPublisher/story.view?RowId=16


" Information provided by Michael

The following information comes from Van Wades 1996 hosta catalog about using alfalfa.

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Since 1996 I have been using alfalfa and can tell you that the results in growth, etc. is excellent. It is worth every penny. I spend about $6.00 for a 50 lb bag at the local feed and seed store.

"""" ALFALFA and TRIACONTANOL as a plant stimulant (from a lecture by D. L. Hinerman, MD)

For more than 50 years, alfalfa has been used as a plant stimulant. The responsible chemical for this action is triacontanol which is ubiquitous, occurring widely in nature as a waxy coating on many plants and as a major component of beeswax. Triacontanol has been called "the most potent growth hormone ever used on plants."

One of the best sources of triacontanol is the extraction from alfalfa hay (medicago sativa) in one of the following ways:


1. soak 5 tablets (500 to 600 mg of compressed alfalfa purchased from natural food stores) in one gallon of water for 24 hours. Agitate, drench plants with mixture as many as five times during the growing season.

2 Add 2-3 cupfuls of alfalfa meal (purchased from farm food stores, being careful that the meal has not been denatured by high heat) to one yard of soil or growing media.

3. use alfalfa meal or chopped alfalfa has as a light mulch or top dressing to soil around plants and apply water.

4. use potent solvents. The resultant solution is much too concentrated. Only a small trace can be used (0.01 cc); not recommended for average grower.

Beneficial results as as follows:

1. Early breaking of dormancy

2. Doubling of weight of plants in one year

3. Up to three years of growth in one growing season

4. Root system greatly increases

5. Possible stimulation of mycorrhize and reported inhibition of pathogenic organism
6. Doubling of number and size of flower buds, flowers and seeds

7. Much improved quality of growth with increased number, thickness and color of leaves.

I have used alfalfa and its active principle triacontanol on all plants that I have grown with excellent results. The above article was submitted to the Great Lakes Regional Editor for publication in the fall edition - 1993, page 9."

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I wonder if an alfalfa liquid such as I made will help with early bud growth?


The bottom line is using alfalfa is more than adding nitrogen I see now.


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For those wishing to use this in hydro setups http://www.super-grow.biz/Triacontanol.jsp


From the web page http://www.actahort.org/books/379/379_29.htm

"EFFECT OF A LONG CHAIN ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL (TRIACONTANOL) ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF DIFFERENT HORTICULTURAL CROPS
Authors: C. Kapitsimadi, S.A. Vioryl
Abstract:
The influence of triacontanol on growth and yield was studied in tomato, sweet pepper, sugar beet, cotton, tobacco and potato plants. Three foliar sprays of triacontanol were applied to all the crops, starting at the early stages of plant growth.
In tomato and sweet pepper, plant height and leaf number were higher in the treated plants than the control ones. The mean cumulative yield per treated plant was significantly higher than the control ones. In sugar beet plants treated with triacontanol, the leaf number and the mean root weight were significantly bigger than the control ones. In tobacco plants the mean leaf number per plant was 11% bigger for treated plants than the control ones, whereas the mean leaf dry weight was 24% more than the control plants. In potato and cotton plants the yield per plant was significantly higher for the treated plants."



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So this is interesting..

Wow...


JTG



Oh and I believe it had something to do with my tomatoes ripening so quick and so well

 

[jaykush]

starting alfalfa sprouts for relik

http://www.backyardnature.net/simple/alf-spr.htm

didnt see this info in here as well so ill add

Alfalfa ingredients:
Triacontanol (growth stimulant)
Vitamin A (high concentration)
Thiamine
Riboflavin
Pantothenic Acid
Niacin
Pyridoxine
Choline
Bentaine
Folic Acid
co-enzymes
Crude proteins (16 - 25% in dry alfalfa)

Amino acids (% in alfalfa meal).
Tryptophan, 0.3 %
Aspartic Acid, 2.3%
Threonine, 1.0 %
Serine, 1.0%
Glutamic Acid, 2.7%
Proline, 1.2%
Glycine, 1.1%
Alanine, 1.1%
Cystine, 0.2%
Valine, 1.0%
Methionine, 0.3%
Isoleucine, 0.8%
Leucine, 1.6%
Tyrosine, 0.5%
Phenylalanine, 1.0%
Histidine, 0.4%
Lysine, Total, 1.1%
Arginine, 1.1%

Minerals (contained in dry alfalfa)
Nitrogen 3.75-5.5 %
Potassium .75 - 3.5 %
Phosphorus .3 - .7%
Calcium 1 - 2 %
Magnesium .30 - 1 %
Sulphur .2 - .5 %
Manganese 30-200 ppm
Iron 20-250 ppm
Boron 20-80 ppm
Copper 5-20 ppm
Zinc 20-70 ppm

 

[Relik]

Jaykush thanks a lot for the link, you're the man! I started seeds a few days earlier, however only one has sprouted so far... But I think they weren't getting enough air (all together at the bottom of the jar, not on the sides as the link you provided recommends), I'll try to make conditions better for them.

Hey Jack, nice tomatoes, down here we're almost entering spring, it's time to sow! Already have about 15 capsicum plants in small pots ready to take off, I could have started the garden already because the conditions are good, however I can't put them in the ground because I'm moving to another piece of land in a couple of months... sorry for being off-topic I just love gardening!

Keep it green people

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

Great thread guys.

I have got my hot little hands on some alfalfa hay and have sprouts coming through in my patch outdoors.

I am gonna mulch with it and make up some tea once i get some pellets.

 

[JackTheGrower]

Hey guys ...

You know that field I got my alfalfa from well I figured it would have been harvested by now.

Funny I went for a walk today and it was being harvested today!





Here is a picture of alfalfa from another field drying before being bailed I assume.

 

[quadracer]

Nice. I need to sprout some alfalfa seed here. There is a 50 pound bag that came with the house, so there is no shortage.

Do the seeds contain any goodies?

 

[JackTheGrower]

Nice. I need to sprout some alfalfa seed here. There is a 50 pound bag that came with the house, so there is no shortage.

Do the seeds contain any goodies?

Good question... I didn't know the answer but I found this with Google.


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Summary Plasma cholesterol concentrations were reduced in 3 human volunteers during ingestion of diets containing alfalfa seeds (AS) for 3 weeks. No signs of toxicity were detected through serum determinations of multiple parameters. The ingestion of AS in rats decreased the concentration of plasma cholesterol, reduced intestinal absorption of exogenous and endogenous cholesterol, and increased fecal biliary excretion.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x9004431617881wn/

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Again good question and I figure we both learned something today.

Helps with cholesterol ( in a good way I assume ) and helps ya poop... Nice way to say it helps ya poop if I am reading that right... "increased fecal biliary excretion"

billary : "A network of tubular structures and tiny ducts form the biliary system to drain bile from the liver to the small intestine where it aids in the digestive... "

I guess it helps get bile out...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_duct


Wow so the seeds are good for us... ha!