Alfalfa pellets too thick?

ZBQ · December 3, 2006

Hey there everyone!

A few days ago I finally had time to pull up all of my tomato vines. I then spread a 50 lb bag of alfalfa pellets evenly over my beds. They are 53 feet long by 3 feet wide.

Is this too heavy?

They will have till spring to break down and then be tilled in, so I am thinking that this should eliminate any possibility that they would "burn" anything at that point.

I also have several buckets of Rabbit poo that have been setting there since August(I think) and was thinking of tilling that into the soil as well in the spring.

What do you think?

Worth1 · December 3, 2006

Sounds like a cool deal to me.
It should work fine.

But what do I know ?

Worth

**carolyn137** · December 3, 2006

I don't know about the amount you used but the one and only time I used alfalfa pellets for Nitrogen they sat there, outside, the whole darn summer and never broke down at all.

But my pellets may not be your pellets so let's hope they do break down. And yes, I live in an area where water falls out of the sky on a somewhat regular basis.

ZBQ · December 3, 2006

Thanks guys.

Do you think I should leave the rabbit poo in the buckets (they are covered) or spread it out now also so it has time to break down? Well, it has been setting in the buckets since August or so.

elkwc36 · December 3, 2006

ZBQ I personally would spread it out and work it in the top a few inches at the least. And if you do the same with the pelletts they will break down better in my experience. Just my opinion. Best of luck in 2007 with your garden. JD

landarc · December 3, 2006

I agree with the spreading of the rabbit and alfalfa pellets now, togive mositure and little beasties time to break things down for next year.

But then, I know even less than Worth

ZBQ · December 3, 2006

Thanks Guys!!

Spread them I will, well, if they aren't frozen in a block!!

Gimme3 · December 3, 2006

ZBQ...i've used Alfalfa pellets many times...thru 5 or 6 years. You are going to lose their nitrogen value to the Atmosphere, if you dont incorporate them into your soil.
Once they get wet, they'll swell/puff up, heat up, and then quickly (within 2 days) , if exposed to surface air , turn into a powdery dry residue. Many people believe that Alfalfa has a Natural Growth hormone within it, perhaps a steroid of some type. I kinda lean that way...too. But it aint gon do ya much good...exposed to the air on top of the ground.

Best Wishes...)))

ZBQ · December 3, 2006

Thanks Gimme3.

I think I will try to rake them into the top layer of soil.

BTW, I like your signature line. Saw them in 94 in the Shoe at OSU. Best concert I have ever been to. 8)

December 3, 2006	#1
ZBQ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 170	Alfalfa pellets too thick? Hey there everyone! A few days ago I finally had time to pull up all of my tomato vines. I then spread a 50 lb bag of alfalfa pellets evenly over my beds. They are 53 feet long by 3 feet wide. Is this too heavy? They will have till spring to break down and then be tilled in, so I am thinking that this should eliminate any possibility that they would "burn" anything at that point. I also have several buckets of Rabbit poo that have been setting there since August(I think) and was thinking of tilling that into the soil as well in the spring. What do you think?

December 3, 2006	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I don't know about the amount you used but the one and only time I used alfalfa pellets for Nitrogen they sat there, outside, the whole darn summer and never broke down at all. But my pellets may not be your pellets so let's hope they do break down. And yes, I live in an area where water falls out of the sky on a somewhat regular basis. __________________ Carolyn

December 3, 2006	#6
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	I agree with the spreading of the rabbit and alfalfa pellets now, togive mositure and little beasties time to break things down for next year. But then, I know even less than Worth __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

December 3, 2006	#8
Gimme3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia, USA Posts: 348	ZBQ...i've used Alfalfa pellets many times...thru 5 or 6 years. You are going to lose their nitrogen value to the Atmosphere, if you dont incorporate them into your soil. Once they get wet, they'll swell/puff up, heat up, and then quickly (within 2 days) , if exposed to surface air , turn into a powdery dry residue. Many people believe that Alfalfa has a Natural Growth hormone within it, perhaps a steroid of some type. I kinda lean that way...too. But it aint gon do ya much good...exposed to the air on top of the ground. Best Wishes...))) __________________ ....Can you tell a green Field.....from a cold steel rail ? Roger Waters, David Gilmour

December 3, 2006	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Sounds like a cool deal to me. It should work fine. But what do I know ? Worth

December 3, 2006	#4
ZBQ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 170	Thanks guys. Do you think I should leave the rabbit poo in the buckets (they are covered) or spread it out now also so it has time to break down? Well, it has been setting in the buckets since August or so.

December 3, 2006	#5
elkwc36 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: SW Kansas Posts: 339	ZBQ I personally would spread it out and work it in the top a few inches at the least. And if you do the same with the pelletts they will break down better in my experience. Just my opinion. Best of luck in 2007 with your garden. JD

December 3, 2006	#7
ZBQ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 170	Thanks Guys!! Spread them I will, well, if they aren't frozen in a block!!

December 3, 2006	#9
ZBQ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 170	Thanks Gimme3. I think I will try to rake them into the top layer of soil. BTW, I like your signature line. Saw them in 94 in the Shoe at OSU. Best concert I have ever been to. 8)