From

Location

Message

Date Posted

colorado

What are good cover crops for clay soil???

9/15/2002 7:11:08 PM

North Ga

Winter rye is always good colonan.

9/15/2002 7:36:01 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Hairy vetch is an excellent legume cover crop. If available.

9/16/2002 9:15:47 AM

Buffalo, NY

A mix of both is even better. The winter (cereal) rye chokes out weeds and puts out lots of roots to break thru the clay; the hairy vetch provides lots of nitrogen even before turning it under, it pulls ("fixes") nitrogen from the air. The rye will help support the vetch as it grows upward.
Another good cover crop is clover but think it may not winter in your area, it needs a longer time to grow. Believe the best clover is "medium red clover", it fixes more nitrogen than most of the others, much more than Mammoth red clover. Vetches & clovers should be innoculated but some vendors sell them already coated with innoculant.

Mark

9/17/2002 1:16:34 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

I believe Rapeseed is the one you want for clay soil as it has deep roots that will help to break up the clay soil, i personally use the Hairy Vetch/Winter rye combo but i have loamy soil.

Glenn Peters

9/17/2002 8:14:13 AM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

I planted the rye/hairy vetch mix last night in one of the plots thats been turned under all ready. Never used it before and I have questions about it being too late in the season and whether it will survive the manure I spread on the plot last week, but I'll find out.

9/17/2002 8:41:03 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

definately not too late

Glenn

9/17/2002 8:56:27 AM

Key West, FL

too late?

9/17/2002 5:42:14 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

anyone have a cheap source for vetch/ they just about give rye away here.

9/18/2002 12:52:55 AM