From

Location

Message

Date Posted

ipswich, ma usa

This year my patch at my home is going to be inactive. (I'm tearing down my home and building a new one, and wont be able to access my patch) What is a good cover crop that I can add for the summer that can bring some benefits in the future. If it's not being use I might as well try and build the soil.

John (5150)

4/29/2005 9:06:40 AM

Waquoit Mass

buckwheat

4/29/2005 9:14:20 AM

Western NY

if you'll be able to get in there once in a while to see it, i would go with a rotation of buckwheat, then oats, field peas or something like that. just keep chopping them down and turning them in before they seed out.

4/29/2005 9:16:12 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Cow Peas or SoyBeans, with an oat mix. Buckwheat has to be tilled every 5 weeks or it reseeds itself.

4/29/2005 10:01:13 AM

Montoursville, PA

Peas, soybeans and clover all need to be innoculated to provide the best nitrogen returns.

Vetch is rated as one of the best nitrogen building plants.

4/29/2005 10:20:23 AM

huntsburg,ohio

doc what do you mean by inoculated.Jerry

4/29/2005 11:44:00 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Buckwheat is effective at extracting phosphorus from the soil - used by organic farmers for this purpose. Phos in the soil is used by the plant during the vine growing and root building stages in early summer.

http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/cover_crops01/buckwheat.htm

4/29/2005 11:52:32 AM

Montoursville, PA

Look in your catalogs or ask your seedsman source seller. They have packages of innoculants which when used cause the plants to produce more nitrogen as they grow.

4/29/2005 12:05:31 PM

Waquoit Mass

field peas are best used early on they like cool climate 2 rotations of buckwheat will maximize your rotation if all you want is one crop all summer clover is best

4/29/2005 2:18:28 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

seem to remember Al Eaton said he replants Buckwheat after he tills in the winter rye...and burys the buckwheat as the vine gets to it...Who's gonna argue with him???

4/29/2005 6:19:23 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

There are some non-winter hardy alfalfas called nitro alfalfa. They fix a lot of nitrogen and they winter kill. Alfalfa has a real deep root systen and will pull up micro nutrients from down deep and leave them where your pumpkins shallow roots can get them.

4/30/2005 3:44:22 AM