How, Why, & When to Grow Cover Crops

[@Angie-ci1lp]

Thank you!!!! I just received my order today!

[@amysnipes4245]

Thanks Gardener Scott! Always good gardening info and insight from you. When i used only daikon to help wirh clay soil, my luttle dogs discovered they are delicious and dugvthem all up for snacks 😂 . This year im using a mix without daikon!

[@HighDesertGardens]

Just got my 5lb order of winter rye seed delivered today! This video couldn’t have had better timing

[@anniecochrane3359]

Thank you again for these really useful tips.

[@franksinatra1070]

Thanks for the reminder. I need to start sowing cover crops also.

[@stephenhope7319]

Nice, I grow cover crops in a rotating basis in one of my 7 beds year round. Here in 9b Sacramento, non of those crops dies back and now at almost September, I have 1 bed with at least 30 inch growth height that I can cut and fork into the soil for a later crop of beetroots and radish. Thanks Gardener Scott.

[@heidijasper5915]

It's my first year with a veg garden in raised beds. I had wondered how to keep weed and tree seeds from taking over and how to keep feeding the soil throughout the fall and winter.

[@robingirven4570]

Great info! We’re thinking about putting in raised beds soon. We’re getting older, we have a 1 acre garden. It’s covered with woven weave fabric and a drip tape system but we still have to bend over, it’s getting harder & harder. We think a smaller garden and raised beds will help us tremendously. I’m trying to learn as much as I can, right now.

[@johnjude2685]

Last fall, I tried Buckwheat as to prep for corn this summer, Believe I had my best corn ever, 4:39 and Ohio also had a drought, so perhaps even more incredible. I'm gathering bean for seeding as a cover crop for early next season .I'm applying more cover crop in the next season. Thanks

[@TJtheHAWK]

Thanks for the helpful tips Scott. I always have wanted to try cover crops but my beds are always too full until it's too late to plant them. For instance, the determine tomatoes, potatoes, garlic and onions I pull out in August are usually replaced with fall crops like brassicas,carrots, and spinach. My other warm weather crops aren't out of the ground until Early October in New Hampshire and by that point I don't feel like the cover crops would have enough time to grow.

[@elvispresley6313]

Can you put cardboard after clipping on top of the cover crops for few weeks to terminate the cover crops ?

[@Pillowtap]

I dont want summer to end :(

[@GraeMatterz]

Question about the mustard: I had previously looked at True Leaf's mustard blend cover crop seeds and noted their recommendation to wait for 3 weeks after the mustard is chopped before planting. Is that an issue with this blend?

[@GardenerScott]

It hasn't been a problem for me in this blend.

[@phillipwallens7748]

My backyard soil is extremely compact and covered in “lawn weed” (broadleaf plantain, etc). I’ve slowly been adding in-ground and raised garden beds and I’m wondering if this seed mix would be beneficial to spread over the lawn to prep it for garden transformation, or if you think it would just make it harder to move around my yard. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@GardenerScott]

This mix has Daikon radish seeds and others with deep roots that can help break apart compacted soil. You could go with a mix that includes other plants also or focus on the plants that are primarily for breaking up the soil.

[@michelemarble6799]

I live in Maine and was hoping you would go into which is better for a no dig gardener annual cover crops or perennials. I am leaning towards ones that die over winter so I do not need to hand til my beds. I bought some field peas to add nitrogen to the soil. What else do you suggest?

[@GardenerScott]

For a no-dig gardener I would suggest annual cover crops. They die back adding material to the top of the soil and the roots will decompose adding organic material within the soil.

[@TonyBridges42]

My beds settled quite a bit this year and I'm planning on adding a few inches of soil and/or compost. Should I do that before, after or instead of cover crops?

[@GardenerScott]

I usually do it in conjunction with each other. Depending on how much I need to replenish, I add compost and then cover crop seeds. And/or, like I mention in the video, add compost on top of seeds.

[@ceegee777]

I just had delivered soil from a company that sells top soil. They called their special blend “planters blend” top soil, mulch and sand. I tested the soil myself and it’s pretty deficient…and the soil is slightly acid. BEFORE I broadcast my cover crop (a mix) into my new raised beds, should I add any kind of fertilizer so the cover crop has some nutrients to grow? Thanks 🌷

[@GardenerScott]

You can add fertilizer but I prefer organic matter like compost. It seems your blend is deficient in organic matter and that can be a better long-term correction.

[@ceegee777]

@@GardenerScott Thank you!!!

[@patkrueger7353]

I usually cover my beds with leaves for the fall and winter. Have never used growing cover crops. Do you just turn them over in the spring when it's time to plant. In

[@GardenerScott]

Here's how I do it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6DEfKx-ea5nrpI

[@garynorcal4269]

Anyone? Suggestions on how to rebuild plant nutrients in a garden that can grow year round. It is a small garden and I don't particularly want to give any of it up to do cover crops.

[@GardenerScott]

Try mulching with compost, by itself or under another mulch like straw.

[@sejalpatel2422]

Hello sir, can u pls let me know How to know when Dikon seeds r ready.

[@GardenerScott]

When saving the seeds wait until the pods are completely dry on the plant.

[@living_in_wellness_gardening]

I cannot see that anyone asked this question yet... Can you grow cover crops in containers/pots? Is it advisable? Thanks in advance for the advice!!!

[@GardenerScott]

You can and many cover crops are grown as individual plants, like Daikon radishes and peas. For overall improvement of soil or erosion control, they aren't really needed in pots.

[@living_in_wellness_gardening]

@@GardenerScott Thanks for the insight! 👍😊

[@sejalpatel2422]

Here in Alberta, this year is not good season for all veg.

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

i live in calgary. Why is it not a good season?

[@sejalpatel2422]

@@mapofthesoultagme7143 V had very hot summer, growth of my veg. Was stunt. It’s not only me but here in Fort McMurray we all had same problems. I don’t know why. Summer veg. like egg plants and all, there growth was stunt. For myself I’m gone for last 2 seasons all organic so Bcz of that I’m not getting too many harvest as I was previously. Here some people started using of urea fertilizer to get more crops. They had nice harvest. But here I 1 guy is master of corn, his corns r always good since I joined group but he also not had good harvest and quality was he was getting this year he didn’t got it.

[@PowderhornWild]

Disappointing to see gardeners planting borderline invasive species like hairy vetch rather than something native that wouldn't be a threat to our natural areas.

[@kelrune]

A month, from now we should have 1.5 or 1.75 months. Do the springs get sooner frosts from Denver.

[@GardenerScott]

I'm at 7000' elevation east of the Springs. Two of the last three years the first frost was in September.

[@carolynsteele-pv1ls]

Why not just let the bed grow weeds?

[@GardenerScott]

That's an option.