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Mill Bay, British Columbia

I noticed that some growers in my area, are beginning to till their cover crop under (Gads & Richmond Dave) and it’s only mid-March with planting time 4-6 weeks away. I normally wait 2-3 weeks before planting time.

When do most of you till your cover crop under? I know a lot of you till the cover crop as the plant grows into it, but for those that till and prep the entire patch, how far ahead of planting time and why?

I know in Richmond Dave’s case, he just can’t help himself and succumbs to impulse quite often, rest of you?

Thanked/Glenn

3/13/2018 10:28:41 PM

Torrance, Ca.

lol about Dave!

I'm tilling my mustard tomorrow Glenn. I then water heavy and wait 21 plus days to let the gas do its job. At this time I'll take my soil test. In the next 3 weeks I figure out what I need and about the first or second week of April I'm ready to add amendments and do the final till!

Its getting close if you have a weigh off in mid to late September!

Get busy buddy,,, you have one heck of a patch this year and things might take a little longer then your previous backyard.:)


Doctor Dave, nice black gold!

3/13/2018 10:54:04 PM

Deer Park WA

This year we tilled a couple of weeks earlier than usual. Our soil test shows our OM levels are 15.7% which is a little higher than we like, tilling it and adding goodies like spring wake up (dried molases and amino acids) help get the little microbes working on breaking down that mountian of OM in the soil. The other reason for tilling now is we had a couple weeks of dry weather so I could get out on the soil without destroying the subsoil. Three days after tilling it poured rain witb more in the forcast for the next two weeks. I figure by the time I get the fencing, irrigation, hesting cables and green houses built it will be planting time. I have found its best to till about 1 month before planting and to have the green houses up and warming the soil at least two weeks before setting out seedlings.

3/13/2018 11:41:51 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

It’s all about weather and time off for me. I grew mustard like So. Cal. but I like to give it 6 weeks to do it’s thing. We are getting a lot of rain this week and next so I feel good about getting it done

3/14/2018 12:19:52 AM

Torrance, Ca.

With patchmaster growing 1900 and 2000 pound fruit I'd be doing what he's doing.

3/14/2018 12:50:52 AM

Wisconsin

If I have snow on my patch, Should I wait?

3/14/2018 2:20:03 AM

Israel

Some say that tilling the snow in helps kill unwanted bacteria and viruses. All that I can add. Good luck !

3/14/2018 5:00:47 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Still frost in the ground here. Would need a powerful tiller. I don't get too excited until mid April to start tillage, except for the areas under the hoop houses. They get worked up just as soon as the soil is fit.

3/14/2018 5:16:03 AM

Orient, Ohio

no mike till that free nitrogen in!!!

3/14/2018 8:32:43 AM

Western NY

I'd need a snow blower before I could till here.

I was about 2 weeks between tilling and planting last year. 2 and a half weeks the year before. It doesn't really give the rye a chance to break down, I usually pick out a few from the planting holes.

3/14/2018 9:06:27 AM

Alex, IN

Who tills there entire patch versus only tilling the cover crop as the plant grows?

3/14/2018 10:08:59 AM

Western NY

Entire patch here. Might be changing that this year.

3/14/2018 11:08:01 AM

Stanwood, Washington

I Do both. I till the entire patch and amend then I grow a second cover crop that I till in as I go.

3/14/2018 4:21:23 PM

Deer Park WA

Our second cover crop we till ahead of the young plants is usually weeds...

3/14/2018 11:52:43 PM

Alex, IN

Everyone that tills and plants a second cover crop. What are you planting?

3/15/2018 5:58:38 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I till the whole patch and plant oats really thick. Oats grow fast and choke out the weeds.Basically a manure crop.

3/15/2018 8:25:34 AM

Iowa

cereal rye, deep roots if allowed to develop, good at scavenging nitrogen which it releases as it decomposes.

3/15/2018 6:53:54 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

I usually turn late March to very early April. Gonna wait longer this year maybe till the 10-15th to let the vetch and rye get longer. Also spring rains pack my soils every April, so the longer the better.

Bats are out flying and got bit by my first skeeter out back tonight. Spring is here.

3/15/2018 9:17:58 PM

Richmond, BC

Actually I did not till as suggested. If I till too early my soil will "cake up" again as it does each winter. I was spreading a bit of manure over the patch...just because I could. Ground was dry and I could drive the tractor on it. Also, I had 20 yds of manure and fill(I expanded the patch alittle) to spread around and I knew that would take some time. Yesterday I started spreading biochar. Today I will spread more biochar, Kmag, 0-0-50,gypsum, and borax. After all is spread I will wait for the first chance to cultivate when the soil dries out a bit. Hopefully sometime in about 2 weeks. What a busy time in the patch...eh?

3/25/2018 9:41:08 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

We didn’t get all the rain that was expected this week, it all went to the mainland over to Richmond Dave. We could have waited to till, but now I’m glad that I did. Still need to do a final soil test and want to give the soil a few weeks to start digesting the cover crop. Hoops up soon, cables in soon, planting time soon. Lights are set up, heat mat set up, seed starting mix bought, good luck everyone.

3/25/2018 4:26:35 PM