Re: Winter preparations
My advice is put the manure on now then plant the rye.
Available nitrogen will help the rye which will fix the nitrogen then
release it slowly next growing season. Otherwise the Nitrogen in the manure
could get lost to the atmosphere. Using well rotted manure is good at any
time. But depends on if you are planning on using chemical Nitrogen or not.
Bob.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Piet Coetzee" <coetzee10@hotmail.com>
To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 12:17 PM
Subject: Winter preparations
>
> ------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?
>
>
> ------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.
>
> ------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.
>
> Regards
>
> Piet Coetzee
> Stellenbosch - South Africa
>
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