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Rhode Island

soil born or carry over patch diseases are one of our worst enemies in our hobby. its something you can not always see but will come back to bite you mid season next year.

some of you may not know that mustard grass is a natural fumeagent for eliminating soil and root diseases.
if you care to do this it must be done now -----as soon as you can have your patch cleared ( even if it just spots where plants were lost during the season and you have cleared the old plants away)

till up the area and spred mustard seed on the bare areas sparingly as a little seed goes a long way.
let it grow september and early november ( it can grow in cooler weather ). grass should get a couple ft tall ) then mow and till in as late as possible in november.

even though we are going into a new patch next year we will be using this method in both new and old (soon to be rested for a few years) patch areas.

pap

8/29/2010 8:48:24 AM

Connecticut

Pap,
Where did you source your seed from and what variety are you using? When do you think is the latest you can plant it?
Thanks!

8/29/2010 9:47:20 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Pap, that is great info. Here is a link that may interest anyone thinking of mustard grass.

http://www.ghorganics.com/Mustard%20for%20Pest%20Control%20Not%20for%20Your%20Sandwich.htm

8/29/2010 12:37:27 PM

Western PA

Great post Pap, Thank you !!
Lee

8/29/2010 12:51:55 PM

Arden, NC

Geez as someone who has fought pyhtophthora since EARLY mid season and has spent a small fortune on fungicides this good to know. Thank you Pap for a helpful post.

8/29/2010 3:43:23 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Thanks Paps,

Luke

8/29/2010 8:15:21 PM

Glosta

Pap, yet another great post from you, This very subject has been something i have been researching for a while. Not to discourage planting a cover crop of mustard to anyone but look into usuing mustard meal instead. I have talked with a professor from Sonoma University in California, who has dedidcated much of his reseearch to this very subject. He told me that the cover crop of mustard can actually harbor pathogens, but the meal will not. Just some food for thought.

http://www.bashanfoundation.org/michael/michaelsuppression.pdf

8/30/2010 12:13:32 AM

Connecticut

Mustard meal sounds good. Mustard is so darn invasive, but after fighting a losing battle against nature's destruction of my plants, I'm willing to give other options a chance.

Where on Earth do you source mustard meal?

8/30/2010 7:23:39 AM

New Hampshire, USA

Where can you get mustard meal?

8/30/2010 9:28:51 AM

East Lyme CT.

I am also trying a cover crop of mustard. I planted Aug 14 and most of it is already about 4" tall. Like Pap said alittle seed goes along way. I think I got it alittle to thick. For field planting it is recommended a rate of 9lbs per acre

I planted Pacific Gold, I ordered from Jerry's Seed in Maine. I am also interested in the meal but I have not found a source yet.

8/30/2010 3:57:40 PM

East Lyme CT.

Sorry, I gave the wrong seed source. My source was Johnny's Select Seeds in Maine,not Jerry's.

8/30/2010 7:45:57 PM

Glosta

https://www.mainepotatolady.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=88

This is the best price I can find on mustard meal. SO far.

8/31/2010 1:01:47 AM

Western PA

After you till this stuff in, will their be any problem with it coming up during next years growing season ?
What I am asking is, will it keep on coming up like weeds do?
I would suppose their would be no problem with the meal.

8/31/2010 6:16:29 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

First things first. You can't plant just any type of mustard seed. To do what Pap is saying above, you have to plant Pacific Gold Mustard. Now the the draw back. You have to mow it down before the flower turns to seed and plow it under or till it in right away. The same day. The only real problem with planting Pacific Gold Mustard is you HAVE TO wait at least three weeks before you can plant another crop. I've included a link. read the whole thing and look at the warning in yelloe about planting this. www.hearneseed.com/product-info.php?Pacific_Gold_Mustard-pid57.html

8/31/2010 11:51:21 PM