If so, I have. I forgot you were supposed to stir it every day and just left it out there a week. Went to check on it and it looks like split pea soup and doesn't smell much at all. Will it be okay if I just let it set a little longer or do I need to start over?

Sis..Nope hon..you don't have to start over at ALL!!..Just stir it daily and when it stink..it's ready!!...Not stirring only means it takes longer to ferment...and once you smell its aroma..You'll understand what I mean about ferment..LOL...

Thanks, maybe I can remember.

I've been stirring mine every day (today was day 6) and mine doesn't smell yet. I wonder if that fact that we had a lot of rain in the last few days and no sun could have slowed down the process.

what do you say Jeanne?

while we're talking about alfalfa tea, is it okay to put on my newly bought and newly transplanted azaleas and holly?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gelato,

LOL - I tried to s_crew it up last summer as I did 2 - 5 gallon buckets, went away for awhile, sort of forgot about it, then started stirring it and before too long it was really smelly. Got busy diluting it and watering the garden with it immediately! The smell is not to be believed.

joyluck - how come you had to "dilute" it? Did it get really thick from not stirring, cuz mine I made last summer wasn't real thick. ???

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(today was day 6) and mine doesn't smell yet. I wonder if that fact that we had a lot of rain in the last few days and no sun could have slowed down the process.

what do you say Jeanne?

while we're talking about alfalfa tea, is it okay to put on my newly bought and newly transplanted azaleas and holly?

Yes...cooler days...lack of stirring...raining ...all these things can slow down the process..TRUST me anyday now it's gonna stink..you can apply this to any and all plants ...remember to water in after applying and don't forget to add your Epsom salts and stir before applying...Jeanne

Jeanne, I can't thank you enough for this recipe. I put my first batch of the season on the 3rd week April. My roses especially love this stuff. The smell is not too pleasant, but the plants don't mind!! I love this concoction. I've also forgotten to stir mine before, and it does take a little longer to get "smelly."

What is the recipe for alfafa tea? I would really like to try it.

here ya go cndlou3

Tea:
Take a 5 gallon bucket
put 4 cups or 1/3 full of Alfalfa Pellets
Fill the bucket with water...STIR DAILY. Then in about 5-7 days it will start to stink. That means it is ready...put in 4 cups of Epsom salts and Stir well. Pour about 2 cups around each plant. Remember to always stir before usage. when done you can fill the bucket back up with water and start over...there will be Alfalfa Sludge in the bottom of the bucket to make more tea

Use 2 cups around rose bushes and 1cup around other plants once a month

Pellets can be bought at your Local Feed Store. it comes in various names. Cattle food..Etc...Just tell the salesperson you want Alfalfa Pellets and they know what you are talking about. Here mine cost about 9 bucks for a 50 lb bag.

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Jeanne, I can't thank you enough for this recipe. I put my first batch of the season on the 3rd week April. My roses especially love this stuff.

Paintlady..I am thrilled you were please with the results...anyone that I've gotten to try it makes it a yearly ritual now!!

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What is the recipe for alfafa tea? I would really like to try it.

Cindylou...take a 5 gallon bucket and put in either 1/3 full of Alfalfa Pellets or 4 cups full and fill the bucket up with water...I like to place mine in the sun and you must stir it daily...in 5-7 days it will begin to really stink...add 3-4 cups of Epsom Salts and stir and apply 1-2 cups around each plant and water in..remember to ALWAYS stir before scooping out to apply to your plants..you can buy Alfalfa Pellets as Cattle feed at any local Feed Store..I paid 11 bucks for a 50lb bag..and don't forget to put into your spreader and disperse on your lawn..it's wonderful...Jeanne

Jeanne, do you put the tea in a pump sprayer for the lawn? I just pulled my recipe off the computer from last year and I am definitely going to do this for my gardens this year. FYI -everything has gone up. Last year you paid $9 for the 50 lb. bag of pellets!!!!

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Originally posted by nance425:
joyluck - how come you had to "dilute" it? Did it get really thick from not stirring, cuz mine I made last summer wasn't real thick. ???

I think I did the 1/3 full of pellets in the 5 gallon buckets. So it was like a thick sludge but was definitely fermented and worked great when diluted! If one used 4 cups of pellets in a 5 gallon bucket it would be way less. Also used some of the sludge mixed with various things such as fine wood shavings, compost, peat moss, vermiculite, leftover potting soil, whatever leftover bits I had, etc. in the cement mixer to make a really nice mulch.

Thank you all so much for the help. With a newly built home(last summer), I didn't get to do much last year. So watch out I have been planting like crazy. Also, last weekend I went to my moms and dug up some of her flowers I know some were what you all call ditch lily's (Ithink) and the others we didn't know what they were if someone could help me out I'd really appreciate it. The bulbs actually looked like onions. Any clue? My hubby works construction and brought me home some huge boulders and lined them around our oak tree so I planted the ditch lilies in there and the onion lookin bulbs too. I am going to spend a fortune on getting my flower beds going. But it will be worth it. Thank goodness almost everything has been given to me so far. But lots more beds to do. I would like to do a small water pond in the yard also. Any suggestions? My hubby wants it to come off of the boulders from the oak tree. But I want a waterfall and don't know how it will look. Will try to take pic's for suggestions

I'm here to testify to the great results of using this alphalpha tea. I started using it last year and let me tell you its worth every bit of effort. My plants love it.

I also found out that Jeanne has been applying alphalpa pellets to her lawn along with gypsome and epsom. I've also done this and can already see the results. I'm well on my way to the best lawn ever. You can look at my lawn and all the neighbors and theres no comparison at all.

Jeanne...I'd like to know if you have any other tricks up your sleeves. :-)

Whoohoo! I remembered to stir it again today and it's starting to smell. Probably stink before long.

Never thought I'd be excited about something stinking in my back yard.

i went right up to the bucket and sniffed it and it does smell, but nothing overpowering or really nasty so I'm assuming it's still not ready.

Sis, I never thought I'd be so excited either. I actually put a sign on my bucket "do not touch" because DH was cleaning out the backyard, throwing out wood etc and I was afraid if I didn't put the sign that he would dump it all as he had no clue what I was doing.

As I stir it every day I wonder if my neighbor behind me can see me from her sunroom and wonder what the heck am I doing.

LOL, nope it's not ready yet.
I nearly hurled the first time I made this, never stuck my nose that close again!

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LOL, nope it's not ready yet.
I nearly hurled the first time I made this, never stuck my nose that close again!

Maybe I shoulda said, "If it doesn't make you GAG"..then it's not ready..LOL...Jeanne