Re: nurse crops

**t*@earthlink.net**

When I farmed in Minnesota we often used oats as a nurse crop with a mix of red clover and alsike clover. The oats would be cut and harvested in early fall, and as oats are an annual crop, they wouldn't be there to compete with the clover in late fall....or the next year.
  There were several reasons for using oats with clover; one, the oats made a cash crop that year, whereas the clover wouldn't be ready to harvest (for hay, or as cattle pasture) until the next year. This is probably the main reason for the nurse crop of oats. The second reason, as already mentioned, is that the oats sprout and grow fast and crowd out many weeds. The small clover seed grows just fine in and among the oat plants. We sometimes used this same oats nurse crop with alfalfa.
  In a very different way, I now often use cuttings of ivy or willow as nurse crops for more difficult to root cuttings of other species. The ivy and the willow cuttings root fast and seem to impart something symbiotic to the other cuttings. Also, because the roots of the ivy or the willow soon fill the small containers, this keeps the slower-to-root cuttings from getting waterlogged (and then rotting), as the ivy or willow roots quickly soak up water. 

Tom Ogren

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp <thehoosiergardener@gmail.com>
>Sent: Jul 4, 2013 6:18 PM
>To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: Re: [GWL] nurse crops
>
>I researched this online and with someone else before posting. I saw the Wikipedia explanation, but it just wasn't coming through to me. 
>
>So in the example I gave, you'd sow oats and legume at the same time and the oats would die and the legumes would take over?
>
>jems
>
>On Jul 4, 2013, at 9:12 PM, Edibleflowers1@aol.com wrote:
>
>JoEllen,
>        A nurse crop  is used to allow the main crop to grow and take 
>hold. Annual rye grass is mixed  with Kentucky blue to allow it to get 
>established and minimize weed seeds from  taking over the Kentucky blue. For legumes, 
>the oats would provide the same  benefit plus it really isn't winter hardy 
>and would be tilled under in the  spring adding additional nitrogen.
>Hope that helps.
>denise
>
>Mrs. Know It All of "The Organic Gardeners"
>Author "Eat Your  Roses" Pansies, Lavender and 49 other Delicious Flowers
>GWA Region 2  Director
>
>
>"There's a few things I've learned in life: always throw  salt over your 
>left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender  for good 
>luck, and fall in love whenever you can" 
>Practical  Magic  
>
>
>In a message dated 7/4/2013 9:04:38 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
>thehoosiergardener@gmail.com writes:
>
>Can  anyone please explain to me about a nurse crop...such as oat as a 
>nurse crop  for legumes...the purpose of a nurse crop is what? and what does 
>planting oat  have to do with planting legumes?
>
>Thank  you.
>
>jems
>
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>Great Garden Speakers
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