With garden planning time of year in full swing , many gardeners are think beyond which varieties of vegetables they desire to rise and wondering how they can best support those vegetables . Let ’s turn over in and explorecover harvest .
Question :
Can I comprise compensate crops in a abode garden , or is that mostly a farmer affair ? How should I get start ?
Brussels sprouts and other brassicas thrived in my community garden when planted after a cover crop.
reply :
insure crops are of import for so many reasons . One of my pipe dream is to see more people adding them in home gardens . Of course , as northern gardeners , we have to be strategical with our short acquire time of year .
The University of Minnesota Extension proffer agreat article on cover craw , including a graphic outlining timing choice . It boils down to this : the easy option is to found them in the fall , the 2nd promiscuous is very former spring and the wily is to stress and plant them during the height of the growing time of year .
Field peas and winter rye thriving in a community garden plot before the frost.
When to add cover crops
I once revived a handful of very eat residential area garden plots with screening crops . Here ’s how I did it . I choose to draw out out my vegetables a piece too soon in the fall , which mean I miss out on some late - time of year green goods . But it was deserving it in the conclusion , so stick with me .
In thefirst half of September , I thickly sowed acover crop of winter rye and haired vetch — these two make a gravid pair because the wintertime Secale cereale suppresses other works from bourgeon and it grows into a beautiful , unripened manure . The hirsute vetch is a legume , so it pulls atomic number 7 down into the ground .
shroud crop like this must be sown a good 3 weeks before a kill Robert Frost for get established , so use your best guess for timing . Thewinter rye / vetch comboactually survives the winter , so in the leap it embark on growing vigorously again . About 2 weeks before planting , turn the entire bed over , making sure to smother the plants with ground . Now you are quick to found just as the Secale cereale and vetch are disintegrate and giving your ground a burst of nutrients .
I was stunned at how well my community garden plots performed after doing this . It really concentrate green goddess pressing , too .
Other times to plant cover crops
This is just one of many “ correct ” ways to use cover crops . Some multitude favor a blanket crop that is “ wintertime - killed ” so you’re able to just plant right through the residuum in the spring . You would need to give it at least 3 calendar week to get established in the fall before a rime . Examples of winter - kill cover crops include oat andpeas .
If you ’re really on top of things , you could implant an early leap cover craw , especially for vegetables that you might not imbed until subsequently anyway , like tomatoes and pepper . Just be certain to take up on the different options and resolve what will work best for you . Some people wish to use a flowering book binding crop like buckwheat or crimson clover — these are great but must be mowed or turned over before they go to ejaculate so you do n’t end up with them as persistent dope .
Final considerations
Try cover cropping in between plants to help with wearing , atomic number 7 fastener … you name it . I have had achiever planting crimson trefoil between tomato plants . I let it grow until it blooms , then just mow it down and use the plant as a mulch in mid - summertime . Just be mindful that your cover crop or interplanted harvest might contend with your vegetable for water and nutrients , so architectural plan and space them carefully .
learn more on the fantabulous U of MN Extension website : cover crops and green manuresor learn a great video aboutsummer cover crops .
Resources from U of MN Extension:
Yard and Garden Insects
Basics on growing yield for northern gardeners
What ’s incorrect with my plant ?
Other gardening questions?Ask a Master Gardenervia our on-line form , or call the yard and garden line at ( 612 ) 301 - 7590 .
Yard & Garden Home
The Master Gardener Volunteer course of study
Featured pic : A tomato plant underplanted with crimson clover , which was later carefully mowed down and used as mulch as the tomato mature . photograph credit entry : Jennifer Rensenbrink .
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