From

Location

Message

Date Posted

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

Just planted the fall rye in my patch,and the last couple of nights it's been freezing. Will the rye seeds be damaged by the frost?

dave

10/31/2002 2:54:01 AM

Western Pa.

No

10/31/2002 9:09:47 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Same question ...Brand new patch won't be done till all the leaves are down, chopped and roto-tilled will it be to late to put in the winter rye or should I sow it in february...

10/31/2002 10:41:38 AM

Puyallup, WA

No....However, do not expect it to be 3 ft. tall by next April!! Mine made it to 6 " this spring!

10/31/2002 11:25:46 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Its the roots you want not the green. If we have a mild winter it will continue to grow all season.

10/31/2002 1:12:28 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

i HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS THE GREEN YOU WANTED, YOU TURNED IT UNDER AND IT THEN MADE "GREEN MANURE".. MAYBE I HAVE BEEN WRONG ALL THESE YEARS?? WOULDNT BE THE FIRST TIME..

10/31/2002 1:17:31 PM

Caceres, Spain

The percent nitrogen on tops and roots varies from 50%-50% to 90%-10%, depending on the stage when tilled, but the effect on the soil structure is much more important than nutrients or even organic matter. You can put ten times more organic matter with a truck of manure than with the most succesful crop cover.
But, in a winter without a cover crop protection, the soil estructure will get damaged and be affected for the whole year. So, plant anything, but plant. Uffffff

10/31/2002 1:52:55 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

...so the seeds won't be damaged by the cold, but will they
still germinate this season, or not till it warms up again
in the spring ? I know I could wait for the outcome, but
I'm too antsy for that ! Thanks folks.

10/31/2002 6:06:44 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

yes its too late! I planted mine on September 15th it now has 3 inches of growth and is frozen in the ground. I was hoping to get much better growth. There will be little growth in the spring as the patch will have to be turned under and planted before much growth occurs. Around here I will not waste my time if I can't get it in before mid to late August. Of course this all depends on your local climate, but thats my view for eastern Idaho.

11/1/2002 12:20:02 AM

Caceres, Spain

MMMMMMMM, Idaho has really cold falls.
Here I have a hairy vetch crop planted also on the middle of Semptember and is one foot high, but we have beautiful falls, and this year is the best I remember.
Duff: In my place your rye seeds would germinate now without any problem, no matter that cold. They do it even in January, after many frosts and with the soil pretty cold. In Massachussets... I would wait and see. Good luck.
Don Quijote

11/1/2002 1:30:11 AM

Topsfield, Ma.

Thanks for the input folks. Luckily the patch rye came up
great. Regraded front yard too late for grass and was hoping the rye would take and keep all my new loam in my yard, and not across the street ! Heck, it's only a lawn.
Lol Duff

11/1/2002 6:15:30 PM

Montoursville, PA

If you are on the organic side of ballance the worms will race to the rye root zone. That is a major soil improving side show seldom mentioned. You plant rye or equal and they will come.

11/3/2002 4:34:22 PM