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WNC Usa

As a fall /winter green manure cover crop mix?

Is there any other annual cover crops to look at

9/3/2009 4:45:47 PM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

I did vetch and winter rye

9/3/2009 6:25:01 PM

Navarre,OH

I want to plant winter rye in the garden this winter but i'm not sure about certain things when doing it. Like should i cut it if it gets too long,when is the best time to plow it under before i plant the garden so the decaying rye doesnt attract seed maggots etc. I tilled lots of grass clipping into the garden about a month before planting and had problems with corn seed maggots eating my beans,corn,zucchini and cuccumber seeds before they had a change to germinate.

9/3/2009 9:26:53 PM

Connecticut

I did a Hairy Vetch 40lb per Acre + Crimson Clover 40lb per Acre + Winter Rye 80lb per Acre mix. If you inoculate the vetch and the clover (with their respective symbiotic bacteria) and grow the vetch until it flowers (but just before it goes to seed) you will get the maximum amount of nitrogen.

My test patch was at 34ppm soil NO3-N, then I planted the above mix in the fall, cut it down in late June and planted corn. Just after the corn was harvested late September I had 90ppm soil NO3-N and corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder, so you can add significant amounts of nitrogen by properly using legumes.

Having said that if you plan on planting in this site early next spring (around May) then the vetch may not be worth it since it grows the most in the early spring. It is a vine and I planted the rye so it should have something to climb on and this combo worked out well.

If you want something to plant now I would do Winter rye. But depending on your growing season you may be able to sneak in a quick Buckwheat planting. The buckwheat will grow quick but is easily killed by frost, while the rye grows slow but can tolerate cold conditions. You may be able to mix the two seeds (but the buckwheat should be planted below the surface for best germination) but I have not done this.

Note: if you have deer in the area they will love the rye. So determine if you want your patch to be on the menu next growing season. Maybe put up a deer fence for the winter?

Probably more information then you wanted but hopefully this helps you make an informed decision.

9/3/2009 10:20:52 PM

Sequim, WA

Yes....... I plant hairyvetch, crimson clover and annual ryegrass as a winter cover when I can. The last time I did it I had very poor germination of the clover, it seems it was a bit too late that year. If you can get it in a few weeks before your first frosts it should do well.

9/3/2009 10:21:37 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i used to use vetch but i just cannot get a good start on it so late in the season before the cold sets in, just use winter rye now.

Glenn

9/4/2009 7:49:33 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Peacefull Valley has some great Pre Mixes....been wondering how they work or if folks have used them....

9/4/2009 1:08:33 PM

Navarre,OH

I'm in northern Ohio. Frost usually doesnt come till like October but its been getting coolalready and areas have had patchy frost already so I guess I will be doing some winter rye. I have never planted a cover crop before so I'm looking forward to the extra goodness to the soil next season. One question though since I'm new to cover crops. When I plant the rye do I do anything at all to it before the spring tilling like cut it down or just leave it be till the ground thaws enough to till it?

9/4/2009 6:22:32 PM

Sequim, WA

Some folks use an application of roundup to kill it then mow or till. I've always just mowed then let it sit for a week and tilled.

9/4/2009 11:47:12 PM

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Last October I planted crimson clover and austrian winter peas at a rate of about 1.5 to 2 lbs per 1000 square feet.

I cut it all down about a week before planting, and left the biomass in place as a mulch. I was happy with it since it crowded out the weeds, and I benifitted with the additional nitrogen too.

I have also used buck wheat as a cover crop after I removed the pumpkin plants, or between them to keep the weeds at a minimum.

Below is my diary that shows a picture or two of the cover crops, and I think the math to show how much nitrogen was added.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2009&grower=35068

Tom

9/5/2009 10:55:22 PM