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Fairport,NY

Well i finally was able to Plant my cover crop two days before Thanksgiving.I could'nt find winter Rye seeds locally so I went the mail order route.It took a little longer than I had hoped but I managed to get the seed planted on a 50degree day with rain in the forecast. my concern is the two days after planting the seed the weather has dipped into the 30's with snow for Thanksgiving. The long term forcast shows low 40's for the next couple days and than a cold dip in low 30's agian? can someone with experience with winter Rye put my mind at ease?Will the seeds germinate and grow in this cold temps or will it not start growing to the spring when it starts warming up?Will the seeds be harmed and not germinate because they got wet then most likely froze? Any replys to this post will help answer my nerves
thanks
Bumkin

11/25/2007 6:41:34 PM

Montoursville, PA

The weather will determine your answer. There have been recent years when you would be OK even with this late start. What is important is that you made a fine effort. Lots of us had difficulty getting rye seed. Most in my area had to use winter wheat. The moral of this report is that we should all start early to find our choice of cover crop for next fall. Ideal planting is by the middle of October at the latest.

11/25/2007 8:56:30 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

http://gvgo.ca/mb/index.php?PHPSESSID=a74c198ac068e245aa9aa7f88ae6d3d1&topic=369.0

11/25/2007 8:57:41 PM

Colorado

if you wet it down and cover with clear plastic it will sprout.leave the plastic over till it gets about two inches high.

11/25/2007 9:42:26 PM

Puyallup, WA

It has been my experience that when I plant in late October, the first freeze comes too soon for the grass to get a good start. Once the ground gets cold, things slow way down.

11/25/2007 9:42:54 PM

Ohio

I planted my wheat late last year Bumkin, and nothing came up untill a month or so before spring prep time, about 1/4 what I planted came up, and it only got to about 2 or 3 inches high at the most before I had to do my spring prep. I definatly started to late last year. This year I planted rye mid October , mostly all of it come up, and its about 5 inches high now, I have noticed once it started to frost more in the mornings and stay colder it has slowed way down.

11/26/2007 3:57:04 AM

Montoursville, PA

Some folks believe that the return of nitrogen from a green manure crop such as mentioned in this thread is relatively significant two weeks from tilling in the spring and for sixty to ninety days beyond. It slows down as the biology in the soil converts it for the plants use.

Using this as a working and timing tool some growers plant buckwheat as an early spring cover crop. It takes right off and can be tilled easily two weeks ahead of the expanding plant. I have planted buckwheat outside the temporary green houses as soon as the houses are set in the spring. The first buckwheat is up in two weeks and will give you about two or three inches of fresh green manure cover to till by the third or forth week. That is enough time to still be getting nitrogen back from your fall crop and at the same time set up for excellent natural nitrogen return by the first of June into July and August by which time your fall crop is very much slowed down.

If you consider a second green manure crop you may also consider another four to six ounces of black strap molasses timed in with the tilling of the spring cover crop.

The icing on this cake would be a three or four inch hay, leaves or straw mulch.

After doing all of the above while using real manures for three years or more you may be ready to properly consider permanent mulch and no till management.

11/26/2007 10:51:11 AM

Midwest

Bumkin: I planted winter rye/hairy vetch on Oct 25th? After a week, I covered most of the seed with clear plastic... right on cojoe! It sprouted about 1 week after (so, from planting to sprouting approx. 14days) We have had a relatively nice fall with temps in the 50s. And, some days have highs in the 40s, lows in the 30s. The winter rye is about 2in high now. If you cover your seeds like cojoe suggested, you will see them sprout. But, I'd uncover them also like cojoe said.
Best wishes!
Greg

11/26/2007 5:45:52 PM