Cover Crop?

[bigredfeather]

Thanks for all the input. I have decided on the Winter Rye. It seems to be the best fit for my need and is also about the cheapest. I will also be able to feed some to my chickens if I choose. It's seems like a great candidate to "kill 2 birds w/ 1 stone." I ordered a 50lb bag yesterday. I think I'm going to plant it in my current garden at the end of the season. Next spring, I will clear the space i need for early garden (lettuce, spinach, radishes, ect...) and let the rest grow until I need it. This will also keep the area for my late garden weed free until I ready to plant.

Thanks again!

 

[Greensage45]

I would imagine that some cover crops are multi-useful; it could be a crop to feed the bees while you are feeding your soil, or it could be a cover crop of timothy hay for use with our furry friends.

Do you use Alfalfa? I mean for your animals, I know some folks consume it, but not me. Alfalfa fixes the Nitrogen into the soil and does grow well across the nation; it is in the clover family.

I too have heavy clay. It can be used for field crops by way of heavy equipment. It holds water to the very end and I see farmers stretch the crops out so far and they just mature so nicely. I am a tad bit more of a waterer myself.

Anyways, I have always ran a compost heap, and this year I moved all the larger un-composted stuff, mostly straw bedding from the chickies and the bunnies, and I created growing mounds on top of the soil. No turning, no tilling, no weeding. I put a dripper hose along the tops of the mounds and planted my cucumbers and melons. They flourished.

When the season is done, I am going to turn this bed right into the soil. This is where my new veggie garden will be next year and I will rotate another plot to do the straw mounds. I am loving this entire process. It is so self sufficient.

here is the before

I highly recommend it if you are looking for 'long-term' solutions to soil management. Over the years, once this is begun, there will hardly be a spot unconditioned by this method. No fuss. Not a pulled muscle one. Trust me on my clay. When it rains and I walk outside, it is like Gumbo. I literally find myself 2" taller just by all the packed mud on my shoes. When it is dry. The stuff is like a baked brick. I do not know how roots can push through it.

Ron

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Ron -- I like your technique for soil building. So . . . are we talking mostly animal bedding in your compost, or are there also a few bits of food waste too? Do you let the bedding sit for a certain amount of time before you plant it with squash, so it isn't too hot? Please elaborate!

 

[Greensage45]

This was the top of this past season's mulch bin. The stuff that was added (weeds, sticks, and kitchen stuff) including my chicken and bunny bedding that I cycled out of the buildings this Spring.

I just piled it up like you see, watered it topside well, and then every 3 ft I put a handful of good organic soil, nice garden soil, a bit of sand mixed in; something the seedling will like to sprout in. Within a week to 14 days all my seedlings sprouted. As they grew the soil began to depress into the mound top creating a depression.

By then I installed 75ft of dripper hose. It is entirely fabric and came from Walmart for $12. Awesome, even if it only lasts a year.

I fertilized by my second week and then again one month later. It has been two months now since I fertilized and it is time. My plants have yet to wither or act like they are over-seasoned. The production is down a bit, so a good round of fertilizer 10-10-10 might be in order.

It was totally carefree and easy. No top watering. No weeding or anything. Here is last month's picture.

This Fall I will clean out the chicken coop, the rabbits house, and all my other critters of the Summer bedding. This will go on top of my existing compost heap I have already begun at another spot. Thus the Madness continues.

Ron

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Looks good, Ron . . . thanks for the more detailed description. I think I will have to try this. You know what the famous saying is about imitation, right?