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Ontario, Canada.

No light at the end of the tunnel. Patch prep is like the Energizer Bunny it keeps on going and going. My problem is I need to get it done quickly as the weather in Central Ontario turns fast into winter. The cover crop needs to get down soon if it has any chance of germinating which means there is not too much time to get leaves into the patches. My back aches for a tractor at this time of year to speed up the process. The Honda roto tiller has been a great addition but my patches have gotten to big for it. Now I'm up to 3000 sq.ft. at my home and another 8,000 at Cornerstone. Too big too fast... I've got a bad case of pumpkinitus...How do you guys get your organic matter in?
fall or Spring?

10/11/2004 5:11:38 PM

Walkerton Ont

i add stuff for organtic matter in fall and in the spring

10/11/2004 5:37:26 PM

Belgium

I just discovered that my neighbor has a compost pile as big as a car. I will be working on it. That will be organic matter for me. Now I just need to get compost for the other patches...

Jake

10/11/2004 7:01:57 PM

[email protected]

This is why I typically avoid using cover crops. We're never really "done" working soil. Soils are dynamic & are always in flux. Adding layers of organic matter all winter satisfy Earthworms. A midwinter thaw allows the grower to do a light tilling which while injurious to the earthworms, also helps control SVBs.

This year is different. With Winter Rye now 6" tall in most places, I'll have to manage a compost pile instead & add the results come spring.

10/11/2004 8:32:10 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

MY plants will go in the ground in a couple of weeks and I am getting a bit nervous we have had to much rain and I cant get the tractor into the patch without sinking still nedd to till the whole lot over and work a bit more lime in. Have the holes all filled with compost so I can plant the plants out if I have to and till around them later on.But I dont think I will put a cover crop in next year it has created alot to till into the soil maybe I let it grom to long and get to tall.

10/12/2004 12:58:37 AM