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Indiana

Will the end of March be to late to plant rye and put some mycorizhea down? Will one benifit from this if I were to turn the rye under right before I plant my plants? Or is it just a waste of time this year and should I wait till fall to put down my rye and mycorizhea for the 2014 season. Any advice much appreciated and thank you

3/7/2013 4:37:45 PM

Piqua, Ohio

it's never too late, some is better than none!

3/7/2013 5:22:39 PM

Bethlehem CT

I would put your rye in now, but wait to turn it in. Let the vines start to run a bit then turn in, at the end of May to early June.

3/7/2013 5:56:50 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I'd plant the rye and save the Mycorrhiza for the pumpkins. It takes Mycorrhiza 60-90 to reproduce new Mycorrhiza on the root of the plant it's growing on. Plus the temp. of the soil makes a difference too

3/7/2013 6:20:42 PM

Merrimack NH

Cucurbit- That's exactly what Ron Wallace did last year- it worked well for him. The plants only take up a very small area for the first month, so let the rye grow and don't till in until the plants are ready to run.

3/8/2013 10:52:41 AM

BC, Canada

RE: rye as a cover crop. Is there not some concern about the allelopathic effects of rye. That is that it can (possibly) hinder the growth of other plants if not left for awhile to break down before planting other crops. I have always heard 3 weeks is best. Others suggest ten days to allow these effects to abate. Allowing cut rye to set on the surface is a good weed suppression method. The older the rye the more it immobilizes N. This is why a planting mix with a legume works well. SO, Cucurbit, yours will be young and wil break down quickly. Another possible advantage of a late planting is that it will not have vernalized and so will not set seed. I use this as a weed control method in my asparagus bed.
The other trick with rye is timing the cut for the N release with your rain cycles, Too far ahead and you have leaching.
I know, too much to consider. But yeah it is a great idea that adds a lot of tilth.
I leave mine until a couple of weeks before I set my plants out. I use a scuffle hoe to break it down. By laying on the surface it helps conrtol the weeds. I only do an area around the stump that first time, then I continue over a few days (or weeks) to knock down the rye well ahead of the vine growth.
Seems to work for me.
Good luck

3/8/2013 1:03:26 PM

Cochran, Georgia

Alleopathic effects of rye are only measurable when the stalks are cooked and reduced in a concentrated slurry. even then the effects are minimal.

3/8/2013 10:48:36 PM

Johnston, Iowa

In Indiana? http://www.intellicast.com/Travel/Weather/Snow/Cover.aspx

3/9/2013 1:25:33 AM

Bethlehem CT

Cavitysearch that is interesting, I did not know that it wouldn't set seed. It makes sense though. I have never planted it in the spring before, so this is a first for me. I have felt guilty all winter looking at the bare soil, wondering if I should have planted in the fall.

3/9/2013 7:27:34 AM