We all want the best for our seedlings, right? If you’re looking to give your babies a growth-enhancing nitrogen boost, this easy homemade alfalfa tea is for you!
Amazing Alfalfa
You’ve likely heard of alfalfa for its incredible cover crop capabilities, but it’s also a fantastic nitrogen-rich fertilizer perfect for seedlings and roses.
Aside from the all-important N in the N-P-K ratio, alfalfa is also an excellent source of vitamins A, D, B1, B6, E, K. It contains minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Alfalfa also provides plants with triacontanol, a special growth hormone.
Alfalfa Tea
The following recipe for Alfalfa Tea is courtesy of Stephanie Rose, author of Garden Alchemy: 80 Recipes and Concoctions for Organic Fertilizers, Plant Elixirs, Potting Mixes, Pest Deterrents, and More.
Rose recommends applying the tea to seedlings after developing their first two true leaves or roses and perennials.
You Will Need:
- ½ cup (120 ml) of alfalfa meal
- 1 gallon (3.8 L) of rainwater or dechlorinated water
How To Make It:
- Add the ingredients to a large bowl or jug and mix well.
- Divide into mason jars, cover, and let the brew sit in a sunny, warm place for at least 36 hours. Stir a couple of times a day.
- When you’re ready to apply, remove from the sunny spot to cool and then pour the mixture directly onto your plants.
- Watch your babies grow!
You can always adjust the volume of tea for your garden’s needs.
Do yourself and your gardens a favor by reading Garden Alchemy. This is such a great read and it offers so many tips for thriving organic plants!