Lucerne AKA Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a legume that is commonly grown as pasture or for hay making. I call the pasture and the hay lucerne, but I call the sprouts alfalfa. Lucerne, is also a place in Switzerland, which I'm sure is related to the plant, but I can't find any information. Confused yet?
I'm about to make it worse, you probably thought I was going to talk about alfalfa sprouts, but I actually don't eat them since I read that:
Actually I use the full-grown lucerne plant. It has a very deep root, so it is rich in various minerals, and the mature plant does not have the same toxicity issues.
How to grow Lucerne?
Lucerne grows easily from seed, if you had some for sprouting, forget that and just scatter them around your garden instead. Once established, the deep root helps lucerne to survive through dry weather. Its flowering in my garden at them moment, and I allow it to self-seed, so it pops up all over the place.
How to use Lucerne?
In the garden, lucerne is a legume, so it adds nitrogen to the soil. It also produces lovely flowers with nectar and pollen to feed bees and other pollinators. The chickens and the cows enjoy the high protein leaves.
Medicinally, lucerne is used for its high vitamin and mineral content. This is probably why the cows and chickens like it so much too. Lucerne leaves can be made into herbal tea, or used fresh in salads. I add it to my herbal tea mixtures when its growing well. I also read that the roots can be used as a toothbrush!
Other posts about herbs in my garden:
How I use herbs - Mint, Peppermint and Spearmint
How I use herbs - Aloe Vera
How I use herbs - Basil
How I use herbs - Ginger, galangal and turmeric
How I use herbs - Marigold, calendula and winter taragon
How I use herbs - Soapwort
How I use herbs - Comfrey
How I use herbs - Nasturtium
How I use herbs - Parsley
How I use herbs - Borage
How I use herbs - Herb Robert
How I use herbs - Purslane
How I use herbs - Chickweed
How I use herbs - Neem oil
How I use herbs - Rue, tansy and wormwood
How I use herbs - Brahmi
How I use herbs - Yarrow
How I use herbs - Arrowroot
I'm about to make it worse, you probably thought I was going to talk about alfalfa sprouts, but I actually don't eat them since I read that:
Raw alfalfa seeds and sprouts are a source of the amino acid canavanine. Much of the canavanine is converted into other amino acids during germination so sprouts contain much less canavanine than unsprouted seeds. Canavanine competes with arginine, resulting in the synthesis of dysfunctional proteins. Raw unsprouted alfalfa has toxic effects in primates, including humans, which can result in lupus-like symptoms and other immunological diseases in susceptible individuals.This is explained in Isabel Shippard's book, and also on Wikipedia with independent references.
Actually I use the full-grown lucerne plant. It has a very deep root, so it is rich in various minerals, and the mature plant does not have the same toxicity issues.
How to grow Lucerne?
Lucerne grows easily from seed, if you had some for sprouting, forget that and just scatter them around your garden instead. Once established, the deep root helps lucerne to survive through dry weather. Its flowering in my garden at them moment, and I allow it to self-seed, so it pops up all over the place.
How to use Lucerne?
In the garden, lucerne is a legume, so it adds nitrogen to the soil. It also produces lovely flowers with nectar and pollen to feed bees and other pollinators. The chickens and the cows enjoy the high protein leaves.
Medicinally, lucerne is used for its high vitamin and mineral content. This is probably why the cows and chickens like it so much too. Lucerne leaves can be made into herbal tea, or used fresh in salads. I add it to my herbal tea mixtures when its growing well. I also read that the roots can be used as a toothbrush!
Do you grow lucerne? How do you use it?
How I use herbs - Mint, Peppermint and Spearmint
How I use herbs - Aloe Vera
How I use herbs - Basil
How I use herbs - Ginger, galangal and turmeric
How I use herbs - Marigold, calendula and winter taragon
How I use herbs - Soapwort
How I use herbs - Comfrey
How I use herbs - Nasturtium
How I use herbs - Parsley
How I use herbs - Borage
How I use herbs - Herb Robert
How I use herbs - Purslane
How I use herbs - Chickweed
How I use herbs - Neem oil
How I use herbs - Rue, tansy and wormwood
How I use herbs - Brahmi
How I use herbs - Yarrow
How I use herbs - Arrowroot
Where would I buy lucerne to plant if I live in a city? I've looked at nurseries before but have never seen it - though travelling in rural WA I have seen heaps of it!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Ennoh, I got the seeds originally as part of a "good bug mix". You can get the seeds for sprouting, so you could just sprinkle those around, otherwise google for lucerne or alfalfa seeds in your state, you will probably find that someone can supply you with a small amount (and not by the 20 kg bag!).
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