Posted: 10/28/2009 9:50:07 PM EDT
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I have been reading about the benefits of a cover crop like erosion control , put nitrogen back into the soil, and more bio mass to add to the soil. At the last minute I called around to the local farm stores and found a cover crop mix of Vetch, Clover, and Peas. I got a bag and raked it in to the garden (about 800sf). I got it down in time because its sprouting! Neat. I have no idea what it will look like in the spring but we will see. Any cover crop success stories? Any advice? |
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Folks down here use elbon rye because it is used to control the nematodes.
I think what you did was good for the soil and likely suitable to your region. Anything not too invasive and aggressive would be fine (which would mean I wouldn't want clover since I still unfortunately have a lawn on my postage stamp) and that grows fast an handles the cold. |
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I put mine in rye grass and red clover.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=19&t=627848 Here's one of the beds: 
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| sounds like you are on the right track. One thing to consider - the decomposition process (when you till it in) uses nitrogen and can leave the soil with less than when you started. Your clover may or may not put nitrogen back. So it wouldn't hurt to add some nitrogen when you till that in next spring to aid decomposition. |
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Quoted:
sounds like you are on the right track. One thing to consider - the decomposition process (when you till it in) uses nitrogen and can leave the soil with less than when you started. Your clover may or may not put nitrogen back. So it wouldn't hurt to add some nitrogen when you till that in next spring to aid decomposition. Good to know. I'll have to ask some of the old timers what they do. Most of the commercial crops in this area is grass seed and they use clover once a year every 7 years in their rotation. Incidentally there are two weeks out of the year when the clover is absolutely crimson red and the fields look amazing. Hundreds of acres of bright red... |
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Quoted:
I put mine in rye grass and red clover. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=19&t=627848 Here's one of the beds: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/FredFeral/IMG_2305.jpg In the spring to you till it in or plow it in? How long do you wait between tilling/plowing the cover crop and planting the spring crop? |
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Quoted:
In the spring to you till it in or plow it in? How long do you wait between tilling/plowing the cover crop and planting the spring crop? I'm no expert here......this is the first year we decided to go in this direction. Usuallly we've spread mushroom soil and tilled that in. Got too much square footage at this point for that to be attractive. My plan at this point is to till this as soon as the soil is workable. That'll give us a month before wanting to plant anything. |