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Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I have an area of my garden that is done with vegetable production for the year. I'm wondering what would be a good cover crop, to add organic matter to the soil. This area has the lightest soil of the garden, and dries out pretty fast.

8/10/2005 12:05:55 PM

Phoenix, AZ

I too would like to hear about cover crops from the experts. However, the little I have read here is what I have come up with:

Elbon Rye produces lots of roots and can reduce bad nematode action

Buckwheat takes more Ca out of the soil and then when turned under makes it easier for other plants to utilize, O'tay?

Broccoli studies have shown that overall pathogens are reduced when this crop is turned under for the next crop.

Please all you experts all more.

8/10/2005 12:28:36 PM

Montoursville, PA

Try to get at least an inch over all of any manure within your reach. Three inches would not be to much. Then plant buckwheat now. Till in under in late fall and follow with rye. You humus content will go a zooming up a full point or two while retaining the nutrients you need for a good grow next year. Till the rye under early in the spring. With all
planting and tilling apply four ounces to the gallon of black strap molasses. Apply about a gallon to each five hundred square feet. No need to worry about a little to much molasses at these points. Apply any adjustments you may need in the fall for the best results. Do not use any synthetic fertilizers to help with this grow or turning under. You are also building your bacteria and fungi population. They do not like synthetic fertilizers.

8/10/2005 12:36:04 PM

Western NY

doc had it.

manure layer now if you can get it, then buckwheat asap. till it in first week of oct, or just as flowers show, whichever is first. then comes the winter rye.

those are the only 2 i have experience with. you could always try field peas, beans, ect. but you may want to just stick with the cheap seed.

8/10/2005 1:24:54 PM

Long Island,New York

Looks like I'll be eating alot of broccolli this fall.

8/10/2005 1:29:46 PM

Long Beach, CA

How about clover, how does it compare to other cover crops? I was considering planting my patch with clover for the winter.

8/10/2005 5:26:34 PM

Montoursville, PA

Vetch will give you more nitrogen and a greater amount of humus if you feel you have time, to grow it. Our previous suggestion is the way, to go, if you want to do the best soil building program.

8/10/2005 8:42:43 PM

Montoursville, PA

Turnips are frequently used to clean up pathegons. Never heard of broccolli. Think turnips would broadcast easier and literally cover the ground.

8/10/2005 8:45:06 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Hey like the turnip suggestion. I will look into that!

8/10/2005 11:44:11 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

not sure what ya winter temps are where you are but mustard and lupins are used alot over here

8/11/2005 2:31:04 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Doug go to the Sporting Goods store and buy some Fall Forage mix for a Food Plot. This stuff has a little bit of everything from Turnips, Kale, Rape, Sugar Beets. I plant it this time of year to give the chickens some late fall/ early winter greens.

8/11/2005 7:23:48 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Thanks for all the replies, and good suggestions. I ended up using annual rye grass, as it will grow well into the cool fall weather that comes in Sept. I'll keep your suggestions in mind, for future cover crop considerations.

8/11/2005 9:28:10 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Why annual rye grass?????that is for lawns.

8/12/2005 7:45:45 AM

Montoursville, PA

Annual rye kills off by frost. It does not re-grow from the frost nipped or tilled under grass. It provides the same humus mass from the leaves as well as the roots.

8/12/2005 8:11:40 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Doc I am saying with all the other cover crops available why annual rye. At this point in the season you could plant just about anything and get more bio-mass from anything.

8/12/2005 9:24:58 AM

Montoursville, PA

Yes Shannon.......My first post gave a good one two plan in accordance with your thinking. My second post suggested vetch first if time, to grow was, in the plan.

Guess it was all wasted time anyway. In one day the person writing the question went with rye grass.

8/12/2005 12:57:13 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Hey, I haven't decided yet Doc.

Annual rye would be ok, not specifically Elbon (cereal) rye?

Ben

8/12/2005 6:15:52 PM

Montoursville, PA

Annual rye grass is fine.

8/12/2005 9:42:12 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Chill out guys. I read your posts, and appreciate your help. Annual rye is a commonly recommended covercrop, from what I understand. This isn't where I'm planning on planting pumpkins anyway. It's the lightest soil in the garden, and our garden soil is on the light side. I wanted to get something planted, and thought anything is better than nothing.
I was torn between buckwheat and rye. After reading that rye grass would grow better in the cool fall, I chose that. I had this area in peas, so I wasn't looking for the nitrogen fixation provided by legumes.
We can get around -40 below here in the winter, and snow cover is no guarantee. I wasn't looking for a cover crop that would survive the winter.

8/13/2005 11:22:27 AM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Annual rye- grass is a good choice for fall planting. In the spring when things are wet , they'll be no early growth to mess things up. Plus you'll have plenty of Organic material for that area.

8/13/2005 4:52:43 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Buckwheat is not likely to increase soil organic matter content much because dry matter production is relatively low and tissues are succulent and decompose very rapidly when incorporated. However, buckwheat can improve short-term soil tilth and has been used to prepare fields for transplants.----http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/EM/EM8693/EM8693.html

Winter Rye is OK, but it will tie up nitrogen until it decomposes. This isn't a bad thing if it occures early in the season. It gets tall as well and provides a fair amount of OM.

Big N Alfalfa is an annual alfalfa that fixes nitrogen at the rate of 124 pounds per acre according to the University of Minnesota. It dies with the frost and doesn't come back. It is also a very thick lush growth and provides good OM when tilled under.

Which cover crop you use should be decided by what you want it to do. Do you want to choke weeds and hold the soil in place? Use buckwheat or winter rye. Do you want to improve tilth and OM, while boosting nitrogen levels as well as other minerals? Use legumes, like alfalfa or vetch. If you use alfalfa or vetch don't forget the inoculum.

8/13/2005 6:48:03 PM