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webster n. y. u.s.a.

i am planning to let my patch rest this year. any advice on what to plant as a cover crop now and still be able to rototill the patch a year from now would be appreciated.

3/28/2006 5:51:18 PM

Montoursville, PA

My choice, for a whole growing season, would be Berseen Clover which will fix up, to 300 lbs., of nitrogen, per acre. It is hardy, to 15 degrees, but you could till it in the fall and follow with rye grass, for your winter cover crop. Territorial Seed Company sells both.

3/28/2006 6:23:04 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Berseem is good. If you plant Berseem and need to clip it to keep weeds from going to seed, make sure you cut it BEFORE the Berseem flowers. If you cut it after it flowers, it won't grow back. You could also try nitro alfalfa. It also puts in a lot of nitrogen and is not winter hardy. It may root deeper than clover and pull up more micro nutrients from the subsoil.

Grain rye will also work as winter cover crop. It is more coarse than rye grass, but it puts out an aleopathic chemical through its roots that will help keep new weed seeds from germinating. A lot of farmers around here plant the grain rye afte chopping corn silage or harvesting soybeans. It adds a lot of organic matter as well.

3/28/2006 9:35:10 PM