Is alfalfa meal recommended for application on flower beds and vegetable gardens?
Question:
I’ve recently heard alfalfa meal is recommended for general application on flower beds and vegetable gardens. I need more information about using this amendment.
Answer:
Alfalfa meal is a common organic soil amendment derived from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) crops, and it offers a low NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium… in the 3-1-2 range) fertilizer for general garden use, plus the soil texture-improving addition of organic matter. It’s typically worked into the top few inches of soil, or incorporated more fully by mixing into new soil before adding. It can be quite powdery, so consider wearing a mask when applying.
There is some evidence that alfalfa meal contains a substance called triacontanol that promotes plant growth, but I suspect the impact at the home garden scale would be slight. Alfalfa meal is still a great addition, but I wouldn’t expect anything like miraculous growth.
Happy gardening.