Re: Winter preparations
on 4/12/02 9:17 AM, Piet Coetzee at coetzee10@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> ------1------
> I have looked through the pumpkin list archive and found that most people
> plant rye as a winter/cover crop. Why is this the preferred crop to plant?
> Others again (including local gardeners) recommend that you should plant
> peas, comfrey or lucerne. I have read somewhere that yarrow brings about a
> beneficial chemical reaction in the soil. Does rye have the same effect?
>
> @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Piet, the main idea behind a cover crop is to maintain
the soil fertility. The cover crop helps keep the nutrients from leaching
away. When they are cut and decomposed they help add organic matter and
then release the nutrient back into the soil. Some cover crops such as
legumes peas) are inoculated and can actually add nitrogen to the soil when
tilled in. I wouldn't use comfrey as once you till it divides the roots and
you get plants all over. There may be some beneficial aspects of comfrey to
helps with soil pathogens but not sure. Some growers use a mint compost
which also can aid with soil pathogens. Rye I think is used to just hold
the nutrients and build organic matter.
> ------2------
> Something else that concerns me is whether the crop would have enough time
> to decompose before the growing season start if the crop is tilled in at the
> start of spring. I would think that it would be very slow to break down
> since that is how you make anaerobic (cold) compost. The air should help
> decompose the tilled-in crop. Local gardeners recommend that the cover crop
> can be clipped, left to dry on a heap and then put on top of the soil or
> tilled in.
>
The green cover crop breaks down pretty quick say 30 days as long as it
isn't thick stemmed. If you let it dry then it will give you the benefit of
coarse organic matter for aeration and break down slower.
> ------3------
> About manure. I am planning to plant my cover crop next week. It is now
> about 6 months before the growing season starts. The soil isn't particularly
> rich in organic material currently. Should one add rotted manure now to give
> the soil a boost or should I only add compost just before planting?
>
> I would appreciate any help or advice.
>
@@@@@@@@@@@@ I like to do it in the fall/winter and then again in the
spring. Hope this helps....MB
> Regards
>
> Piet Coetzee
> Stellenbosch - South Africa
>
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