Molasses, Did You Know?

[Lilypon]

An agriculture supply centre is the cheapest supplier here. I can get a 5 gallon pail of liquid molasses for $17.00.....at a hydroponics store it would cost me $15.00 for a pint of the stuff. The same ag store will sell a huge bag (20 lbs) of rabbit feed alfalfa pellets for $13.00.

(the U.S. and CDN dollar are almost the same).

[creister]

Last year, I spread dry molasses on my yard about 2 weeks before I spread Corn gluten meal. Man, did that make a nice looking lawn. Not to mention, molasses also repels fire ants.

[clarenceboy]

Try alfalfa meal too in september. Your lawn will be the last green one around and comes spring it will be green weeks before others.

[brog]

Pro Bass sells molasses $11.oo gal

[jungseed]

I've always wondered what it would be like to work the clean up crew in a molasses factory. Anyone have a molasses factory nearby?

[Zana]

I've toured one in Jamaica. We were given footwear to wear around the facility, so as to save our own. There is a stickiness you can't escape outside at their facility, and being in that climate allot of the initial processing is done outside (stripping of cane stalks, chopping of stalks, etc.), it makes sense.

And I don't think I'd ever want the job of clean up crew after a spill. I was watching one of those "disaster shows" on I think the History Channel and they showed where a massive tank of molasses collapsed, sending 1000's if not millions of gallons into the surrounding community and killing many people. It coated people like an oil spill does animals and they basically drowned in it, unless the actual impact from the tank debris killed them.

I believe safety standards have increased hugely since those days, and since my tour of the Jamaican facility back in the 70's.

[jungseed]

Not to suggest I know anything, but I'm guessing that the clean up crew would involve a lot of steam?

[elkwc36]

I know around the feed mills where they use it they usually use warm water to clean the equipment ect. You can buy it online also. I take about a tablespoon full a day it is good for you. I can also buy the dry mollasses here at the feed stores but some claim the liquid is better. Not sure why. The two kinds you can buy here are sugar cane and sorghum I believe. Jay

[roamwhereiwant2]

I've gotten several good ideas from this thread and its links. Thank you.

I hate using pesticides and last year I gave up and let the fire ants spread. The idea of orange oil and compost tea is appealing and I sure hope it's effective.

I gardened organically last year and lost a lot of plants to various funguses and viruses. I've got my battle plans drawn for spring.

Yvonne

[Polar_Lace]

Thank you, Yvonne; for bringing this post back up to the top. It's something I will surely use in my garden.

~* Robin

[tjg911]

i read the link and i like the recipe for spraying cabbage moths.

i don't see where it tells you how to use this as a foliar spray for plants or as a drench. i don't want to buy alfalfa meal nor aerate a mix. if i wanted to use as a foliar spray how much black strap molasses would i use for 1 gallon of water? same question for a drench for plants? can i mix black strap molasses and water without anything else and get good results? is it safe to use on new plants?

thanks,

tom

[Polar_Lace]

1 Tablespoon per gallon of water (1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons).

"Liquid molasses can be used alone or as a component in both sprays and soil drenches. Your personal preferences and growing style will help to decide how to best use this natural sweetener for it’s greatest effect in your garden."

~* Robin

[brog]

Where do you get orange oil Thanks

[Polar_Lace]

Originally Posted by brog

Where do you get orange oil Thanks

Try looking here:

orange oil for plants

I Google a lot of things! 'd?

~* Robin

[dice]

[orange oil]
One place to get essential oils at soap-making prices:
http://www.essentialwholesale.com/Pu..._Oils_s/36.htm

Orange oil:
http://www.essentialwholesale.com/Pu..._Oils_s/36.htm

(You probably don't want the "folded" oils, which are distilled
to make them less harsh on the skin when used in lotions and
soaps, which may remove ingredients of the raw oil that are
active in pest control applications of these products. You can
probably tell by the price that these products are heavily
diluted in commercial pest control sprays, cleansers, etc.)

Edit:
That second URL should have been
http://www.essentialwholesale.com/OR...WEET_p/664.htm