Re: Cover Crops??

yolos 8/26/2019, 1:44 pm

countrynaturals wrote:
Smiling Gardener wrote:Some of the most popular overwintering legumes include vetch, various types of clover, fava beans, bird’s-food trefoil, cowpeas, and winter peas.
I could munch on peas all year round -- sugar snap in cold weather -- cowpeas in the summer. Never another empty square anywhere.

Smiling Gardener wrote:Vetch has very high overall nitrogen production

And awesome for the bees.

I don't think cowpeas would be a good cover crop to overwinter. They like it hot. Grows fantastic in our summer heat. But I do grow winter peas in the winter and they do fairly well. Except I just read an article that Ohio Gardener linked and they said that cowpeas overwinter. But I do not know what variety they could be growing that would not be killed by a frost. Or maybe they are gardening where it never freezes.?????????

countrynaturals 8/26/2019, 2:01 pm

Yolos wrote:I don't think cowpeas would be a good cover crop to overwinter. They like it hot. Grows fantastic in our summer heat.

I need summer cover crops, for when something gives up or finishes up in July or August. That's when I'll use cowpeas. The rest of the year I can use sugar snap peas. I guess "summer cover crops" sounds strange to the rest of you, but here it could be a real blessing. It's worth a try at least. Right now I'm watering empty dirt. dangit

yolos 8/26/2019, 2:17 pm

countrynaturals wrote:
Yolos wrote:I don't think cowpeas would be a good cover crop to overwinter. They like it hot. Grows fantastic in our summer heat.
I need summer cover crops, for when something gives up or finishes up in July or August. That's when I'll use cowpeas. The rest of the year I can use sugar snap peas. I guess "summer cover crops" sounds strange to the rest of you, but here it could be a real blessing. It's worth a try at least. Right now I'm watering empty dirt.

In the summer, I use buckwheat. It is ready to turn under in about 30 days before it sets seeds. I use it a lot between planting some crops. For instance, if I am growing broccoli and it bolts but it is still not warm enough for sweet potatoes, I will sow some buckwheat and turn it under before planting the sweet potatoes or use it for mulch.

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