From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Canada

This is one part that I missed out on i did get all the additives into the patch that i wanted but never got the cover crop planted. My seeds are here now for the cover crop and was wondering if its way too late to toss them over the crop. the ground here in Kitchener is currently frozen solid and theres about 5" of snow over my garden patch.
if i toss the seeds over it in mourning
come spring will they grow enough so i can dig them into
the patch come june before planting or would you not even bother

thanks

Dave

12/21/2003 11:47:56 PM

Sequim, WA

Sorry Dave, the only cover for your patch right now will be snow. It would be a waste of seed to do what your thinking of. Nothing will grow until the soil warms in spring. Putting seed on there now will just cause it to go through the freeze thaw cycles and most of it would be wasted. Then what little may germinate would just get tilled under before it had a chance to anything for you. Save the seed for next fall. You should still be able to get decent germination rates if you get it in in October and don't wait until December again.

12/22/2003 1:00:11 AM

Montoursville, PA

Very sound advise. In lieu of a cover crop borrow the top half of a cover crop from yards or some other green source.
Put a couple of inches on and till it in. You would not have the great humus producing root mass but you would have at least some of a green manure crop.

If per chance that could be mowed clover or any legume you would be in as good of shape as possible. You might consider an addition of some alfalfa meal along with your greens....and a few pounds of corn meal to feed your biological side of the patch. Don't forget to run in some fish and kelp coupled with molasses if you have it.

The above will really start up a decent healthy patch direction for a patch this short on humus.

In your spare time...:) start a compost pile and see how well and how much compost you can have ready to add this fall along with leaves and more manures.

12/22/2003 12:35:04 PM

Western Pa.

I,m wondering if the rye would germinate by covering the patch with plastic (after the snow melted). I have added rye too late several times, and if the birds don't eat it all, it usually germinates and grows in early spring, before it's time to till.

12/22/2003 1:15:45 PM

[email protected]

Even if it did germinate, it would be prone to winter kill. Plus unless the cover crop becomes well established, there is little to gain. All cover crops do is hold soil from erosion & add some Nitrogen later as it decays. The erosion matter could be handled with a layer of leaf mulch now.
The gain in Nitrogen can't be recovered now anyway.

Steve

12/22/2003 2:48:11 PM

Indiana

Can an early spring cover crop be planted?? if so what??
Steve

12/22/2003 3:44:20 PM

Montoursville, PA

In a good cover crop there is roughly two thirds as much root mass as there is top growth above ground. That's a heck of a lot of humus material when it decays with the turned in tops. That can not be achieved in this growing time period. Start a good cover crop of possibly hairy vetch, clover per your area and winter rye next October. It will be ready to serve you well in the spring of 2005.

12/22/2003 9:21:14 PM

Amherst, WI

I'm curious about the value of a cover crop planted in the spring. By the time I am finished gathering leaves and tilling them in, it is too late for a cover crop before the ground freezes. So I'm planning on planting a cover crop in the spring. Or, would it be better to compost all maple and some oak leaves in the fall, and just plant a cover crop after the pumpkins come off the patch in october. (The previous year's composted leaves would be tilled in before the cover crop is planted).

12/24/2003 10:34:28 AM

Montoursville, PA

Hey...that's what I have done. Gets my cover crop going within ten days of the weigh off on Oct. 4th. I have the program started that will provide the old leaves, half made compost, manure and what else on site and ready to apply right after weigh off.

I did double duty this year to make it happen and be ready or at least to some degree ready for next fall. Year old leaves chopped and half composted are far better than new ones anyway. The thought never occured to me the first year. I got caught with an early snow and half done fall prep the first year.

12/24/2003 12:26:51 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I thought it was too late for my cover crop as well. But just this morning I looked out the window to my 3 patches and I saw a little green. It has been very cold up here except for the last three days about 42 to 45f. We have had over two feet of snow in total this month. Most of it is now gone. The green up has begun for a short time. My crop of oats was put down on Oct 25th. Sure was a nice sight this morning. Dave I think it may be a little late for you now. However get out there in Feb. just after the fist melt and get it down. The patch will be nice and green come late April. Are you in the snow belt in your Area?

12/24/2003 12:33:36 PM