When I plant my roses, I put a handful of triple phosphate at the bottom of the hole and cover it with a layer of soil. Thank goodness they have that to "snack" upon, because I've been very remiss in giving them anything the last three years. My oldest roses--the ones that are thriving--were accustomed to received an annual dosing of alfalfa tea:
I would advise against keeping a tight lid on things. It seems to me pressure would build up, and the last thing you'd want is an alfalfa tea explosion! I put my lid on loosely, if at all. I would also warn you against adding anything other than the alfalfa during the "cooking" phase. Trust me, the alfalfa will smell enough. Once, I was daft enough to add a bottle of fish emulsion at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week, I could barely approach the container, and I half-heartedly wretched while applying the concoction to my roses. Oh, and it had maggots squirming in it. So, forewarned!
Water your roses well before applying so the roots won't be burned. Apply, and water again. Then step back for the new growth!
This is neither here nor there, but I have a long metal pole with which I stir my garbage can of brew, and I recite: Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble. I'm not making any claims to the efficacy of the chant in making the concoction work. I'm also not remarking on the effect this may have on your neighbors.
Speaking of neighbors, when I first began brewing alfalfa tea, I set it up in an obscure area of the yard--off the end of the deck and on the side of our house where it couldn't be seen from the street. Imagine my embarrassment when I noticed our neighbors frantically scrubbing out their garbage carts in an effort to rid themselves of the obnoxious odor! I moved my brewing location to the far side of the house after that! I did eventually get up the nerve to tell them that their garbage carts hadn't been the culprits.
My husband manages to lose me in the yard, so it simplifies things if I tell him which garden I'll be in!
http://www.ars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Alfalfa-Tea.pdf
I would advise against keeping a tight lid on things. It seems to me pressure would build up, and the last thing you'd want is an alfalfa tea explosion! I put my lid on loosely, if at all. I would also warn you against adding anything other than the alfalfa during the "cooking" phase. Trust me, the alfalfa will smell enough. Once, I was daft enough to add a bottle of fish emulsion at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week, I could barely approach the container, and I half-heartedly wretched while applying the concoction to my roses. Oh, and it had maggots squirming in it. So, forewarned!
Water your roses well before applying so the roots won't be burned. Apply, and water again. Then step back for the new growth!
This is neither here nor there, but I have a long metal pole with which I stir my garbage can of brew, and I recite:
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
I'm not making any claims to the efficacy of the chant in making the concoction work. I'm also not remarking on the effect this may have on your neighbors.
Speaking of neighbors, when I first began brewing alfalfa tea, I set it up in an obscure area of the yard--off the end of the deck and on the side of our house where it couldn't be seen from the street. Imagine my embarrassment when I noticed our neighbors frantically scrubbing out their garbage carts in an effort to rid themselves of the obnoxious odor! I moved my brewing location to the far side of the house after that! I did eventually get up the nerve to tell them that their garbage carts hadn't been the culprits.
My husband manages to lose me in the yard, so it simplifies things if I tell him which garden I'll be in!
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