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webster n. y. u.s.a.

next year i,m planning to let my present patch rest .any suggestions on what to plant as a cover crop?in the past i have planted rye but i am not sure if that is the thing to plant this year and except to use a tiller 18 months later.

9/10/2005 7:24:37 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

I would plant clover then. If letting the soil stand for that amount of time you should plow it then till the soil when you are ready to start working the soil.

9/10/2005 9:10:21 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

What does a cover crop do? I guess it prevents wind erosion. But, what else? I'm trying to decide if I should plant a cover crop in my small garden patch. Does it keep down weeds?

9/10/2005 11:28:05 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Winter rye will keep down the weeds. It will also prevent some nutrient leaching and increase organic matter.

9/11/2005 12:04:17 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

But if I was to have a patch sit idle for a whole season I would plant a soil building mix of legumes. Available from Johnny's select seeds.

9/11/2005 12:05:56 AM

Sequim, WA

I would rotate a couple of cover crops through the patch for optimum nutrient retention, weed suppresion and tilth improvement. I'm planning to give at least half my garden space a rest next year. I will plant a fall cover of winter rye, hairy vetch, and austrian winter peas. In the spring this will be cut and then tilled and then planted in buckwheat. Before the buckwheat goes to seed it will be cut and tilled and a crop of crimson clover will be planted. The following spring I will till that in and plant my garden. I will probably repeat the process with the portion of the patch that is not cover cropped in 06 during the summer of 07.

9/11/2005 12:26:51 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

If you have clay soils a good choice may be Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover. This clover has tremendous soil building and compaction busting qualities. It is however extreamly agressive and would be have to be killed with Roundup. I would suggest a winter cereal like winter wheat (its not as agressive as Rye) then in late February when there is still frost in the ground, spread some sweet clover. This stuff will grow 3-4 ft tall and put roots down even further. It is known by some oldtimers as a quick fix for a compacted soil. Keep in mind it will be a challange to handle all that organic material.

9/11/2005 7:08:40 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Hairy Vetch adds more nitrogen, than other cover crops.

9/12/2005 8:11:58 AM

Montoursville, PA

Ditto: Hairy Vetch if you take the rest year, to grow it. It needs, to be inoculated, to perform it's best.

9/12/2005 11:00:51 AM

Eau Claire, WI

I rested my patch this year so I could do some other things. I planted a mixture of 70% buckwheat and 30% cowpeas (like the "Summer Soil Builder Mix" from www.groworganic.com). It worked great. I planted a new crop every 6 weeks and tilled it in - 3 crops total. Now I have some winter rye growing. I am happy with the results.

9/12/2005 2:14:56 PM

Midwest

Can I ask a stupid question? I don't want to rip up my plant yet but I want to start a cover crop. Would planting in October be too late? What could I grow in October and when would I till it under?
Thanks,
Greg

9/13/2005 2:26:11 PM

Montoursville, PA

A good many guys plant rye grass, winter rye in the second week, of October. It winters over and gives you a nice flush in the Spring. Till it under early Spring.

9/13/2005 5:43:24 PM