RE: Cover Crop

Actually, if it's rye, then it's winter rye, sometimes called cereal rye,
from its latin name "secale cereale." This is not to be confused with
ryegrass, which is a grass. Winter rye is extremely cold hardy, and often
used in the North. Sometimes it is planted with hairy vetch. While winter
rye adds much biomass and when tilled in it provides nitrogen, the hairy
vetch actually pulls in nitrogen from the air, a process called "fixing"
nitrogen. This is also the case with fava beans, field peas, bell beans,
alfalfa and clovers. One of the best clovers is medium red clover. It
actually provides more nitrogen than mammoth red clover, crimson clover,
etc.

Depending on where you live, when you plant a cover crop & when you till it
in & soil type/moisture/temps, many other cover crops or blends can be used,
including barley, mustard, alfalfa, magnus field peas, California red oats,
white dutch clover, buckwheat, cowpeas, common vetch, etc. For more info,
see a place like harmonyfarm.com or groworganic.com. Here's a link for
general cover crop information from Peaceful Valley:

http://www.groworganic.com/a/a1b.html?pBoxName=046ACWCC1

Hope this helps.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On Behalf
Of Rebecca (Rebkin) Steward
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 12:17 AM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Re: Cover Crop


Hi List:
I believe the cover crop thats been mentioned on this list, is rye.
Available at feed & seed stores nationwide-its supposed to have a lot of
nutrients and recommended to till under in the Spring when you are getting
your patch ready for planting. If anyone has any other info or if I am
incorrect, please give us your suggestions. Thanks and good luck to all-we
have a good few more weeks 'til weigh-offs, anything can happen!
Rebecca
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathie Morgan" <fishrap@earthlink.net>
To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 7:25 PM
Subject: Cover Crop


> George,
> Now that the Stucker is down, time for me to think of the first steps
> toward next year. At Half Moon Bay you suggested a certain cover crop,
> and my old memory has lost it. What was it? When do I plant it?
> At the same time Bob Troy suggested corn for a wind break, and we're
> feasting on fresh corn nearly every day.
> Thanks so much!
> Kathie
>
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