From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Stanwood, Washington

How soon before planting should the cover crop be tilled in? Does it need to be killed first? Should it be tilled in before the soil test or after?

2/23/2012 2:59:31 PM

New Zealand

good question captain sir. aint tillin killin. Anyho looking forward to the answers

2/26/2012 4:51:34 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Years ago, I was advised to till cover crop and final ammendments under a minimum of 3 weeks prior to planting.

Gives it time to decompose and nutrients ready for the plant and roots.

2/26/2012 12:08:25 PM

Piqua, Ohio

hand pulling your cover crop and laying it on top is a good way to keep from killing important micro organisms if you no till you'll neeg to apply soil conditioners like gypsum

2/26/2012 3:15:22 PM

Deer Park WA

We are planning to till in our 5000 square foot area of 14" tall Winter Rye March 10th. We have added several hundred pounds of Calpril and Dolopril per our soil sample report as well. We let it sit for a few weeks and take another soil sample and apply the ammendments. Then one last till and its time to build the clotches. To answer your question four to six weeks before planting.

2/26/2012 6:40:00 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

It also depends on why you are growing a cover crop...Is it a green manure? Did you want to add organic matter? If you want to add organic matter it should be cut and dried prior to incorporation. A green manure can just be tilled in.

2/26/2012 7:45:31 PM

Nottingham, UK

I guess it also depends on how well established the crop is. My first sowings were last August which I turned over and covered mid-late Feb. The roots and foliage were so dense that I think it will take a while to breakdown.

3/2/2012 10:11:10 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here is some great info/details on green-manures. It also details the "wait time" when tilling under cover crops as nitrogen may be tied up while decompostion takes place...

http://eap.mcgill.ca/MagRack/COG/COGHandbook/COGHandbook_1_5.htm

3/3/2012 1:32:19 PM

Nottingham, UK

You can never have too much information, some helpful info in there NSB.

Here's another usefull if not more general pdf for all green manures:

https://www.cotswoldseeds.com/files/cotswoldseeds/Cotswold_Green_Manures_final.pdf

3/5/2012 4:56:00 AM