Search
Latest topics
» New to SFG in Arlington, Txby sanderson Yesterday at 3:13 pm
» Soil Blocks: Tutorial In Photos
by OhioGardener 4/25/2024, 5:20 pm
» Manure tea overwintered outside - is it safe to use?
by Mhpoole 4/24/2024, 7:08 pm
» Advice on my blend
by donnainzone5 4/24/2024, 12:13 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 4/24/2024, 8:16 am
» Rhubarb Rhubarb
by sanderson 4/23/2024, 8:52 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 4/23/2024, 1:53 pm
» What do I do with tomato plants?
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/23/2024, 1:36 am
» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 4/22/2024, 4:57 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 4/22/2024, 2:07 pm
» Sacrificial Tomatoes
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/22/2024, 10:36 am
» From the Admin - 4th EDITION of All New Square Foot Gardening is in Progress
by sanderson 4/21/2024, 5:02 pm
» Seedling Identification
by AuntieBeth 4/21/2024, 8:00 am
» Happy Birthday!!
by AtlantaMarie 4/21/2024, 6:56 am
» Three Sisters Thursday
by sanderson 4/20/2024, 5:25 pm
» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 4/20/2024, 3:08 pm
» Compost not hot
by Guinevere 4/19/2024, 11:19 am
» Maybe a silly question but...
by sanderson 4/18/2024, 11:22 pm
» Hi from zone 10B--southern orange county, ca
by sanderson 4/18/2024, 12:25 am
» Asparagus
by OhioGardener 4/17/2024, 6:17 pm
» problems with SFG forum site
by OhioGardener 4/16/2024, 8:04 am
» Strawberries per square foot.
by sanderson 4/16/2024, 4:22 am
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by sanderson 4/16/2024, 4:15 am
» April is Kids Gardening Month!
by sanderson 4/15/2024, 2:37 pm
» Creating A Potager Garden
by sanderson 4/15/2024, 2:33 pm
» Butter Beans????
by OhioGardener 4/13/2024, 5:50 pm
» Companion planting
by sanderson 4/13/2024, 4:24 pm
» First timer in Central Virginia (7b) - newly built beds 2024
by sanderson 4/13/2024, 4:16 pm
» California's Drought
by sanderson 4/10/2024, 1:43 pm
» Anyone Using Agribon Row Cover To Extend The Growing Season?
by sanderson 4/8/2024, 10:28 pm
Google
Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garlic grow?
+62
SwampTroll
countrynaturals
has55
ctrysg
BeetlesPerSqFt
CitizenKate
newbeone
Scorpio Rising
boffer
trolleydriver
littlejo
Razed Bed
Cajun Cappy
Yardslave
Windmere
Kelejan
JustMe
martha
brainchasm
AtlantaMarie
Rambo
johnp
Marc Iverson
Icemaiden
bnoles
wcfujita
southern gardener
greatgranny
J_in_HamiltonON
iiiigardener
mschaef
Goosegirl
sanderson
yolos
donnainzone5
NightMist
mollyhespra
meatburner
jimmy cee
JackieB999
llama momma
cjdunmore
CapeCoddess
cpl100
FamilyGardening
Dunkinjean
westie
RoOsTeR
tomperrin
kbb964
quiltbea
elysia
subsonic
Turan
walshevak
Nonna.PapaVino
GWN
CindiLou
Grandpop
plantoid
camprn
cheyannarach
66 posters
Page 32 of 32
Page 32 of 32 • 1 ... 17 ... 30, 31, 32
Re: Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garlic grow?
bgardner wrote:If I were to plant a cover crop, like beans, legumes, buckwheat, alfalfa, etc., would I plow the plants into the soil after they reach maturity? (and I've harvested whatever goodness from them to eat all fall and winter) I've considered doing this with my garlic area, but don't know if you pull up the plants (and compost them for later) or just plow them under.
I try to do no dig/no till gardening as much as possible in order to maintain the Living Soil Web as much as possible. So, I prefer to just chop & drop the cover crop, rather than digging it in. I prefer to use annuals rather than biennial or perennial crops, since they are much easier to kill when done with them. My favorite summer cover crops are Crimson Clover and Buckwheat. My favorite winter cover crop is Winter Rye (not ryegrass) with Hairy Vetch.
Crimson Clover and Buckwheat are both very fast summer growers (I don't plant them together, but use one or the other). With both plants if they are cut off at the soil level soon after they bloom, but before they set seed, they will quickly die. The cut off tops will much the soil and decompose, while the roots will slowly decompose and loosen the soil. Both feed the microbes and earthworms.
Winter Rye with Hairy Vetch is an excellent winter cover crop as it starts growing in the fall, and then the tops die back after being frozen. But, the roots continue growing all winter long, and will go down as much a 6' to 8' deep into the soil. In the spring the top will start re-growing, and is a fast grower. If you are able to allow it to grow until they start setting seed, it can be cut off at soil level and the plants will die. If you need the garden space before the rye starts setting seed, it can be turned under and it will die. Either way, the plants will need 2 to 3 weeks to decompose before planting the bed.
With any of the chop & drop cover crops, I plant through the mulch formed by the tops that were cut off. I may add compost to the top of the mulch before planting, depending on what I have available.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Re: Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garlic grow?
Nice! When I planted mine, there was a cold snap, so hope I get some!
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8712
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
sanderson likes this post
Re: Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garlic grow?
Had they sprouted when you got the cold snap? Are you going to mulch them?
Page 32 of 32 • 1 ... 17 ... 30, 31, 32
Similar topics
» Anyone have asparagus yet?
» Ever Grow Garlic?
» What varieties of garlic and onions do you like to grow?
» To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
» Garlic - Transplanting garlic in mid-season
» Ever Grow Garlic?
» What varieties of garlic and onions do you like to grow?
» To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
» Garlic - Transplanting garlic in mid-season
Page 32 of 32
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|