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Lodi, California

Hi all! I was wondering what would be a good cover crop that I could plant around my plant during the summer. Also, what should the cover crop help add to the soil?, organic matter? Nitrogen? Thanks to everyone helping!

12/25/2012 9:42:52 PM

Sourthern Utah

hi ash,, well if you did a fall soil sample ,, you know,, whats needed ,, plz, dont take this wrong,, add the required nutrients about 2/3 rds or 3/4 what it said,,.. ok,, now that said,, look at the rains and storms you have been getting ,, part will leach out,, as fer summer crop,, imho will take away from what you have tryed to do,, with your climate,, put winter rye ,, or mustard down in the fall asap,, after the patch is cleaned out,, better and more beneficial,, ,, hope this helps you,, curt

12/25/2012 11:57:10 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I don't know much ashton,,,,,,,,,,,,,but I do know my cover crop of winter rye, radish and peas are almost a foot tall, green, lush, full and when turned under in a couple months,,,,,,, is going to make some killer organic matter for my kins next summer! :)

Plant your cover crop now :)

12/26/2012 12:08:06 AM

Sherbrooke,Quebec, Canada

Do some people leave their cover crop during the summer and then pull it and use it as mulch?

12/26/2012 8:26:59 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Biomaster PeaZ, Hairy Vetch, BuckWheat, Fava BeanZ, Red Clover, .. checkout OrganicGardening.com CustomiZe your own Cover.
Winter Rye is a good one aZ well.... Cover Crop iZ it....I have some in my hoopZ right now...and itZ 8 degree out!

12/26/2012 11:02:26 AM

Lodi, California

what about for mid summer?

12/26/2012 3:10:01 PM

Torrance, Ca.

That question is for you WiZ..........................

12/26/2012 3:16:55 PM

Piqua, Ohio

google it, you can find out a bunch of info on the internet

12/26/2012 3:31:00 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

First what doeZ your soil test say you need? I did a combo of deep rooting plus nitrogen building along with high organic wanted. If your rotating, you may want to consider several cover crops, it really depends on what you haveZ and where your soil need to beZ. AroundZ pumpkin planting timeZ, perhapZ then we go to high Myco modeZ.....lol
Go out to http://www.groworganic.com/ check out all their cover crops and what each one can do for you.

12/26/2012 3:49:26 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

OK Ashton...tell these guys that you are growing in 320sqf. Your soil test looks good..and we have told you what to do at least 10 times.Although you don't want to listen.

12/26/2012 5:04:45 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Ask 10 growers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


Get 10 different opinions ;)


I myself choose to listen to 1 or 2 experienced growers and follow their direction to a tee.......

12/26/2012 5:44:46 PM

Rhode Island

so.cal hits the nail on the head.

you cannot get into this hobby and expect to do well if you try to be everything to everybody.or for that matter follow several different growers systems. its not a one size fits all hobby.

climate and soil play a big roll in many different areas of our world, actually helping in some and holding the growers back in others.

for this reason many growers no matter how skilled have a harder time with success.

sometimes a grower can wear out their welcome if thay ask to many questions. better off to read those books.

pap

12/26/2012 6:02:20 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

•    There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
•    There is no passion, there is serenity.
•    There is no chaos, there is harmony.
•    There is no death, there is the force

12/26/2012 6:04:59 PM

Lodi, California

My soil test says I need more p and k. And Linus, how am I not listening? I've done everthing everyone has told me that is in my power. You constantly seem to be in a bad mood whenever I'm involved, yet I've done nothing wrong. Have I ever asked about a cover crop before? All I'm doing is trying to get as much information as possible. I'm sure your a really good grower, and I am asking if anyone could help me. I'm fairly new to the hobby as you know, and I am asking for as much help as possible, but it doesn't help one bit to leach off negativity. I believe you said to look on the internet, I truly am. In fact that's all I've done unrolled I came across bigpumpkins. So Linus, when will all the negativity end?

12/26/2012 6:56:10 PM

Lodi, California

Also thanks pap, so cal, the wiz, curt, and josh, it is appreciated that I get answers and that you take the time out of your day to help me, and especially since you guys don't radiate negativity. I wish you all a happy holiday.

12/26/2012 7:02:29 PM

NSW, Australia ([email protected])

Ashton, Linus is only saying that many people have already given you summer cover crop suggestions.

12/26/2012 7:38:29 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Ashton, I grow a fall/winter rye cover crop to add organic matter and nitrogen for the plant. I till it in a few weeks before planting...however I have never grown a cover crop in the summer and certainly would not bother, if I had only 320 sq ft to grow in....your plant will quickly cover your patch and will catch any cover crop you tried to grow very quickly.

On another topic (not to change your original question) did you grow this year and if so, what did you grow and how big did it get?

It takes years and years to learn soil and soil balance and the biology of soil science...try and read and learn as much as you can...

What might help you, is to use the "site search" function on a more regular basis and search for things you want to learn about...rather than just posting and posting and hoping that someone is going to give you the magic answer...

You've heard it before, and you are going to hear it again, "get a local grower to mentor you" that way you will learn from a local pro (and there are many many great California growers (including some relatively new growers) and you will learn alot more, alot quicker than trying to get answers by open posting questions like you currently are.

So, off season cover crop "yes grow one and till it in a few weeks before you plant your seedlings"

Summer crop....I don't grow one and none of my mentors grow them so I cannot offer you advice or counsel on that topic.

Best of luck in 2013...what did you grow in 2012?

12/26/2012 9:33:01 PM

Lodi, California

572 on a side vine

12/26/2012 9:49:33 PM

Lodi, California

Pounds

12/26/2012 9:50:19 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Good for you....that is a nice sized pumpkin. Shoot for 600 lbs in 2013 and go from there...

12/26/2012 9:56:31 PM