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Eugene,OR

As winter's grip keeps us from doing much outside, let's kill some time by talking about our cover crops!! I have Bell Beans planted as a cover crop. They are a type of Fava Beans. They are currently about 10 inches tall. Last year I cut them on March 15 (they were 2.5-3 feet tall then) and tilled them into my soil. I had lots of worms and the plants were completely decomposed by the first of May. How is your cover crop doing and what have your results been in past years?

1/21/2006 12:16:57 PM

SF Bay Area, California

I planted winter alfalfa and crimson clover. It's only one inch high and not moving. The birds also ate a bunch of it. It's not gonna do much until it warms up a bit.

I've planted crimson clover in the past. It makes for a great spring display! Just as it starts blooming, I till it under and the wife swears at me and calls me crazy....

1/21/2006 12:34:43 PM

Indiana

First time for a cover crop winter rye. Its about 6 inches high a bit patchy from the fling it method of planting. hope it makes a difference in the OM.

1/21/2006 1:20:37 PM

No Place Special

Exactly the same story here as moondog. Last year was my first year using cover crop (winter rye) and the patch I did it in produced my 881 and 1114. That was the first time this patch has ever grown anything much over 500 lbs. Did it help, I dont know but it didnt hurt!!!

1/21/2006 1:56:26 PM

Mocksville, NC

First year for cover crop winter rye 8" tall little patchy, but for the most part even, very green in 3 patches.
I used the sling method too, will it help? cant hurt, and I can tell no herbicides in compost one good thing. I like the idea of the legumes i have read that they create a nitrogen fixing properties to the soil,but so does seaweed. I'll see how it goes this year! best of luck to all Rog.

1/21/2006 2:20:57 PM

Garden

My first cover crop too. Banner fava. The birds managed to pluck out about half, but the rest is about 6-8" high and doing well. Kinda cool to have something to watch grow during the Wintet.

1/21/2006 2:48:47 PM

Williamsport, Pa.

winter rye is thick and green, about six to eight inches.. put six wheelbarrel loads of fresh manue on last week.. on 4 30x30 patches ..still see most of the green.this will be tilled in over and over to break it down by may.. then as soon as the soil warms up a cover crop of buckwhweat will be planted and tilled in just before i put my watering system into play.

1/21/2006 4:32:32 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Local farmer who leases our acreage...drilled(?)...winter rye in the punkin patch...nice even rows...between 3-5 inches tall...nicer in the patch than out in the fields...go figure...hope it helps with soil fertility. Nothin to lose. Price was right... Peace, Wayne

1/21/2006 4:36:19 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I broadcast some winter wheat and got nothing. It was so dry it never sprouted. No moisture until we got the 17" of snow in early December. I won't give up, though and plan on trying winter rye this fall. I have seen it do a lot of good for grain farmers around here.

1/22/2006 10:46:43 PM

Long Beach, CA

I still haven't finished adding manure to my patch, but once I do I'll plant a cover crop of crimson clover. Hope it's not too late...

1/23/2006 12:48:45 AM

Michigan

hubby added 250 lbs of sweet feed to his veggie garden. Something in the feed has germinated and looks like he has a nice little cover crop growing. About an inch tall in the last weeek or so. He is UNHAPPY, but I keep telling him it might be good for the garden!

1/31/2006 12:39:43 AM

Montoursville, PA

I did that once. The tiny delicate leaves grew me my first flax plants with pretty little blue flowers. It caused no harm here. Flax gives up easily when you stir the soil.

1/31/2006 12:30:15 PM