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Mulino, Oregon

I just wanted to throw this out to the group. When it comes time to ready your garden for planting, what do you do with the cover crop? Spray it out and till it in, or just till it in? Inquiring minds want to know.

3/3/2003 7:08:36 PM

[email protected]

I don't plant cc's, but the decision would have to be made based on the nature of the crop. Tilling destroys Winter Rye. But some Clover & other Legume crops could become a problem if not sprayed with RoundUp.

Steve

3/3/2003 7:15:44 PM

Montoursville, PA

As a general principle many feel that keeping the chemicals out of the process as much as is possible is a noble art. I don't know how they do it but some use no chemicals.

Tilling will return more value and kill most covers. You should be able to till the area that is away from your nusery bed at least two or three times before the vines move out over the rest of the bed. Each till action gets a gazillion weeds when they are small.

3/3/2003 8:06:22 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

I mow down the "winter rye",just before it goes to seed and till it in...if you don't mow it down it clogs the tines when you are tilling it..

billy

3/3/2003 8:09:38 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Red clover, tilled in.

3/3/2003 8:22:17 PM

[email protected]

RoundUp does not leave any herbicide residue in the soil at all. None. Zilch. Nadda. Let not your hearts be troubled.

Steve

3/3/2003 8:47:38 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I tell you what I do. First I mow the cover crop and let the clippings on the surface for a week or two for them to begin to rot, then I plough the patch with my big black horse (have you seen him in the photo section?). After 3 o 4 weeks I till the patch with the rototiller.
I believe is much better for the soil microorganism population to add the organic matter not so fresh as a green cover crop just tilled in, because it is said that fresh organic matter can improve the number of some soil pathogens, like pithium and fusarium. And one or two weeks is not a long time to wait.
Don

3/4/2003 1:55:41 AM

Montoursville, PA

And while we are leaning towards organic trends you might consider going to www.GardensAlive.com Look at page 21 Bio Boost. This is an exclusive only from Gardens Alive. What they are calling for might cost a dollar a year in the 1000 sq. foot patch.

3/4/2003 7:51:38 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i mow then till in the winter rye and hairy vetch never had a problem with them re emerging.

Glenn

3/4/2003 8:35:26 AM

Utah

Don- or anybody,
if you let your crop sit out a couple of weeks will you lose any of your N due to volatilization or denitrication ???
I know you will lose N in fresh manure do to these factors but I don't know about plant matter.

3/4/2003 5:07:41 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I believe that the denitrication in the mowed crop is very slowly and the most of the N stay on the cuttings until tilled.

3/4/2003 5:59:15 PM

State Of Jefferson

so basic reply do people mow, till or spray, and how long before do you do before growing?

Douglas

3/4/2003 11:40:53 PM

Puyallup, WA

One can plow after one week after spraying Round-Up. I disk and plow the first of April as soon as it is dry enough to do so. Plants go in the ground May 5th or so.......inside hoophouses, of course!

3/5/2003 1:20:54 AM

Montoursville, PA

Douglas It is a growers choice. The spray material gives specific instructions. My own principle in the matter is that I will not use any chemical that has been through a plant unless there seems to be no other method that would save my crop.

There are many gardeners in your area of Portland that indeed are absolute organic growers. My son is one of them. He elected not to grow the pumpkin because it did not look like it could be done without chemicals he chooses not to use....or a trade off to a whole bunch of pumpkin sitting he did not want to devote the time to.

3/5/2003 10:34:52 AM