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Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Lets get a thread going on the benefits of molasses. I do not know much about how and when to use it and would like to understand its benefits....thx Ray Leonzi

12/19/2005 8:51:18 PM

Indiana

Ray just do a site search it has been discussed many times.

12/19/2005 8:55:42 PM

Eugene,OR

The way I understand it, basically it provides food for the good critters in your soil...beneficial bacteria, worms, etc. I mix it up with a little Neptune's Harvest and Symbex in a hose end sprayer and spray the entire patch generously. I do this in the fall before I plant my cover crop, and in the spring after I do my final prep. The first time I did it I felt kind of foolish. Now that I have a better understanding of what it does for my soil, I feel quite a bit different about it.

12/19/2005 9:25:46 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

In the summer, I can butter my biscuits, rub them in my patch, and...mmmmm.mmmmm.good!!!LOL Seriously, worm population seems to be increasing...maybe from soil improvements, maybe the molasses is helping. I spray it everywhere I am growin stuff. At such low cost, and potential benefits, who could go wrong. Peace, Wayne

12/19/2005 9:52:50 PM

Piqua,Ohio

Molasses can be nothing but beneficial, plants produce sugars molasses=sugar great worm food and many other microbes will feed on it I spray molasses with everything I spray and I spray something every day. It is the cheapest thing you can get might as well use it moderately!

12/19/2005 10:03:48 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Are you talking about "garden grade" molasses that you get at
a cheap price, or something you steal out of the pantry?

I think if I ask for this at the "Tea and Crumpets" garden
centers here or at the HomeDepot/Lowes, they'll have blank
stares..........

At what rate do you apply it through the Ortho Dial N'Spray?

12/20/2005 10:23:52 AM

[email protected]

Since cattle grade Black Strap Molasses cannot be found at any price here in CT I have arranged for a bulk purchase from Ohio. Now comes the logistics of the matter.

How well does this unsulfonated (read "not preserved") keep in storage? Must we keep it refrigerated? If a plastic jug is filled to the top (without air space) will it keep at room-temperature?

TIA

Steve

12/20/2005 10:51:34 AM

Indiana

Cliff You can get "feed grade Molasses" at a cattle feed store/grain elevator. I mix the molasses about 50/50 with water and run it thru the dial and spray at the highest setting it could get expensive at the grocery!! Vineman Im not so sure that Neptune's harvest doesn't already have some molasses in it, I mix seaweed powder fish powder and molasses and it sure has the same smell as Neptune's if you leave out the molasses it smells much different.

12/20/2005 10:51:42 AM

Indiana

Tremor
The stuff I got at the feed store is two years old and hasn't fermented yet it stays in garage year round (freezes in the winter and bakes in the summer)I keep the lid on except to use it. the jug is half full and it hasnt given me any problems at all.

12/20/2005 12:13:19 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Steve, same here I have kept it for three years in storage in my unheated backyard shed.

Russ

12/20/2005 12:35:52 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Several years back, upon Dwaine's advice, I started using feed grade molasses on a regular basis. My brother got me a 5 gallon jug from our local horse racetrack and I store it in my shed year round with no issues. I also mix it with my fix/kelp mix and use it diluted on a very regular basis. Powdery mildew is kept at a minimum (if any at all) if you are dilligent and spray under the leaves as well. I find mixing it with hot water and then in the hose end sprayer works great. Also seems to work great to excellerate your composting process.

12/20/2005 1:31:01 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

yep, I pick up 5 gallon buckets directly from the supplier. I leave the buckets and they fill them as they're tapping off the rail cars. have it in the garage year round with no problems. i'd like to offer it at PumpkinSupply.com, but I can't see that the shipping costs would be worthwhile for anyone.

12/20/2005 1:43:48 PM

[email protected]

Thanks guys. I agree Matt. The shipping far exceeds the value of the material. Welcome to the world of selling "big-heavy-cheap stuff" LOL

My importing a quantity from Ohio is just for the benefit of our club's local growers. Even my friends at the local Agway (who supply most of the Horse farms near here) no longer carry Molasses. They sight improvements in dry feed quality as causing the lack of interest thus lost sales.

12/20/2005 2:55:22 PM

Wilmington.Ma.

There is also a dry Molasses feed. I picked it up at a horse feed store. I spray the dry in fall and spring.
Spray the other every other day.

12/20/2005 3:30:21 PM

Wilmington.Ma.

Sorry spread the dry.

12/20/2005 3:31:37 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Hmmm... if it's used with horses, there is a chance I could find it at the local "Cal-Ranch" store. Thanks for the ideas!

12/20/2005 3:37:55 PM

South Harrison , N.J.

You can also find feed grade molasses at some major sporting goods stores in the "Hunting section". I buy it to complement the deer feed that I put out for the deer across the road from my house.

12/20/2005 11:35:52 PM

Eugene,OR

Farmer's Coops, any ranch supply store, or feed store will have it. If you have cattle, you can find it somewhere.

12/21/2005 12:25:58 AM

Montoursville, PA

The dry stuff, by any name, is not molasses. It is molasses, on grain hulls and chaff, sold under various names. I does not, by weight or any other measure come up, to the value, of liquid black strap molasses.

When storing liquid molasses I advise leaving the cap cracked and the jug sitting, on a tray. Once, in awhile, a jug desides, to grow. Cleaning up a whole work bench or table top is no fun. I speak from experience.

12/21/2005 11:38:05 AM

Ontario, Canada.

This is my general usage of Molasses:

Springtime, 4oz or more to the gallon per 1,000 to the top soil in spring watered in well.

Tees, up to 4oz per 5 gallons of each batch.

Foilage, 1oz to the gallon with tee twice weekly

12/21/2005 2:10:20 PM

Oz

Will sorghum molasses work? I know some Amish who love to trade,,and sell.

12/21/2005 4:37:26 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

In my town, it seems that only dry molasses-laced feed is available..... :-(

12/21/2005 5:29:32 PM

Montoursville, PA

Sorghum molasses is a carbs too however I find no advisory to use sorghum. I do not know what the content comparrisons might be. "your research" may find the answer. I posted the specific contents of black strap molasses in an earlier post.

12/21/2005 7:20:11 PM

Ohio

If you cant find regular cattle grade molasess, try going to a outdoor store like cabela's and get the Molasses you put out for deer. Pour it on a stump and the deer lick it off. Its almost the same exact stuff, only it cost alot more.Only thing I see that it has extra in it is preservative's.
I have seen that people in Europe cant get molasses over there, But if they have a deer season, they might be able to pick up a jug of this there.

Here is a link to the similar stuff I use for deer, they make all kinds.

http://www.headgap.com/~bigbuck/product.html

Brooks

12/21/2005 8:23:38 PM

South Harrison , N.J.

I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and saw (2) 1 Gal. jugs of molasses for deer/bear/pigs in the section for Hunters.

12/22/2005 12:03:27 PM

Michigan

We found our black strap molasses at a health food store similar to Atkins

~Jessica

12/22/2005 3:08:18 PM