From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Eugene,OR

I have a cover crop of fava beans which is about 2 feet tall. How long before planting should I cut it and till it in?

3/6/2005 3:43:59 PM

Puyallup, WA

Hi Russ,
I wait to cut mine until the end of March. However, mine is only 8" tall. You have 3X the mass that I have.
I would do it my March 15th. When you you put your plants in the ground?

3/6/2005 4:21:13 PM

Eugene,OR

I'm planning to start my seeds April 15 and have my plants in the ground about a week to 10 days later. By the way Stan, thanks for growing 1000+ pound pumpkins and having the same last name as me...it makes me look good! It is a good thing you aren't a 300 pound personal best grower...

3/6/2005 5:31:58 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

You want to leave it as long as you can to give you the most organic material possible. If you wait too long the decaying plant mass can be toxic to the young seedlings. I would recomend tilling it down a couple of weeks ahead of transplanting

3/6/2005 5:50:04 PM

Montoursville, PA

Russ........Consider cutting it down in several steps so the long vines will not tangle up your tiller. If I ever had one that nice I would be cholked up with pride.

I would like to see that tilled in as soon as possible and maybe tilled again two weeks ahead of plant set out date. This will whip in the oxygen and support the conversions you seek as you begin your new patch development

Congratulations on the nicest good nitrogen and humus based cover crop I have ever seen or heard of.

Step back and watch this patch go. Russ you did a goodie!!!

3/6/2005 6:27:25 PM