Cover Crops in Spring (What To Do)

[@nancyfahey7518]

My first rain in 30 days. I can smell the soil improvement.

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

Putting a tarp or woven groundcover over top of the mulch (straw in your example) will help to retain more moisture and shade out anything that tries to grow before you're ready to plant. It can also be used in place of turning over the soil for a no-till approach but it takes longer to terminate the cover crop. I did my own video on this on 9/10/2021

[@jmom5735]

Your puppy wanted to help you pull (eat!) your cover crop! Lol! Thank u for a good video - grew cover crops but did not know what to do next - perfect timing

[@meganhollingshead3276]

I just learned that you're in my zone! Colorado 5b here also and super stoked that I can learn more closely from you!!

[@jblewis1975]

I put compost (that I make) on my beds in the fall. Also, if a bed's soil needs more improvement, I use my push mower to cut the first grass of the spring and mix it with leaves (that I collect in the fall) on top of the soil. I turn it in every few days, composting it in place in the bed. By the time my warm weather crops get planted, they do well and have plenty of nutrients. Thanks for another great video, Gardener Scott!

[@tonysparapani3077]

I have to say You are the best gardener I have found on KZbin. :)

[@Gkrissy]

Great video.I enjoy this topic because I find cover crops have improved my clay soil in a short time. I got winter rye last year from your recommendation and when I researched it, I realized I wanted the same benefit.

[@Angie-ci1lp]

You’re the GOAT!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@kjrchannel1480]

It is official in my area. Outdoor watering/irrigation is suggested to be no more than 2 days a week, and to decrease indoor water use by 10 to15%. I doubt they can enforce and know who waters when. Currently I have nine full 55 gallon rain barrels and maybe a hundred gallon juice containers also full of rain water. This year mulch will really help even though Earwigs like to hide in it. That means a lot more traps. I mentioned this because, once the spring moisture dries up, it is plant prioritizing and water rationing time, for miilions of people. I will be watering trees with grey water this year that would be wasted down the drain.

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

I heard that one can also cut the cover crops close to the ground level, so I guess the roots would still be alive. Then it seems like the regular plants can be grow among them. Is that a good idea? I have alfalfa and clover as cover crops and I tried it, but sometimes they grew quite fast so I had to cut them constantly.

[@GardenerScott]

It depends on the cover crop plants. Leaving the roots is often a good way to benefit the soil. Annual plants will die after cutting, but perennial plants can grow again and might interfere with the regular plants you want to grow. Clover could be annual or perennial. Alfalfa is perennial.

[@kat6084]

we have a small electric tiller we use. Neither me or my husband can do the manual turning over of the soil. it's light enough we can use it in the garden beds.

[@franksinatra1070]

Thanks Gardener Scott. Cover crops are great but I often have difficulty getting many in since I grow a rather large Fall garden. I do plan ahead and try and get hairy vetch planted where my brassicas will be the following year to provide extra nitrogen though. I just cut the tops off in the Spring and try not to disturb the soil. That seems to be good enough to kill hairy vetch. I learned the hard way that this type of cover crop should not be planted in locations that will not be hosting nitrogen loving plants the following year.

[@roland3569]

Gardener Scott, what if I take a piece of black plastic and lay over the top for a couple weeks? Will the sun heating the plastic kill the cover crop and then I can plant directly without turning over the soil? Thanks for your channel and have a great day.

[@GardenerScott]

Black plastic for a few weeks will have minimal effect. Clear plastic for a couple months is a better way.

[@roland3569]

@@GardenerScott Thank You.

[@sayidcali884]

Thanks

[@FirstClassPirate]

Nice work on this video

[@Yankeesista203]

Thanks for your video! I always enjoy watching! Blessings Gardener Scott!

[@heidiclark6612]

Great video! I have wanted to try cover crops but I am dealing with a cat or cats wanting to use my beds as the bathroom. After I amend them in the fall, I have to put straw and Bird netting ( thanks for the idea) to keep the cats out. I dont know how I would do that with cover crops.

[@fredigoettler8073]

What is the best way to use cover crops in a no-dig system where you don't want to disturb the soil by turning things into the soil? Or is this not a concern since you're only disturbing the top few inches?

[@GardenerScott]

Choosing annual cover crops that will die back naturally and become mulch is a good way.

[@vanicee5142]

Which type of crops would that be and when do you plant them. I've never done cover crops but want to.

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

You can terminate cover crops by cutting them down, mulching and/or putting additional compost on top then using tarps to block out the light. Depending on where you live and how cold your winter is will help to determine what cover crops will winter kill in your area. Buckwheat is 1 possibility. It grows quick during the warm months and will be killed in areas that get frost and freezing temps.

[@marymccormick7806]

Thanks. I was waiting for your follow up. This is my 2nd year trying cover crop on one area of my gardens. 1st year cereal rye. This past year took your suggestion and bought a mix. Did not come up as consistent but maybe some had winter kill like mentioned. I’ll need to review crop progress and prep soon. Do you start seed in your beds (w cover crop) or transplant starters? Thanks again🌱🌞

[@dustyflats3832]

Wow, that looks like a lot of work.

[@scrappyquilter102]

Turning the dirt with the garden fork is what I do, with a mind no only to avoid chopping worms, but also to incorporating their favourite foods (last fall's leaves and grass clippings) down deeper into the soil. Was it my imagination that they were disrupting the seeding and germination process up at the surface when I left their food up there? I would like to hear more about the difference between "turning" and "tilling" the soil and the effects it has on the soil.

[@janwilliams4282]

I should have watched this video last year. My concern - because I did plant cover crops this past fall in my raised beds - was that if I didn’t get them out by the roots then I would have weeds all through this years garden season. Another lesson, I planted them way too thick.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Very informative video. You have a similar growing season to Alberta. Cheers, Scott! ✌️

[@bp-ob8ic]

Started year two on our raised beds today (North Georgia, last frost mid-April). Tomatoes, jalapenos, and zucchini were all we could find in the garden centers. Going to start some yellow squash and okra from seeds, and hope for the best. Growing up in Florida, we over-seeded pastures with winter rye. I'll figure out what is right for my region, but what grass did you use for a winter-cover?

[@lisabevans8107]

He said winter rye. Hope this helps.

[@GardenerScott]

I used a blend. There were a couple types of wheat and the winter rye that survived the cold temps. This video tells more about the plants in the blend: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKTKnqFqjNB3n9k

[@PhosphorAlchemist]

Southern Exposure seed co-op has all kinds of growing info for the southeastern US, including cover crops. Their info gave me enough confidence to try cover cropping this past fall, though I didn't start mine quite early enough for my zone. I definitely saw far fewer weeds because the rye grass was too dense to allow other seeds to take hold. Your dept of agriculture cooperative extension is also a great non-commercial resource. You should be able to pick the brain of a local ag officer or master gardener to learn what will work best for your specific location.

[@Barrell60]

Thank you

[@rebekahchalkley3252]

Do you not need to remove the root fragments of the grass before you turn them over? I feel like I constantly have a battle to remove every last tiny piece of grass roots or they will sprout and come up and spread.

[@suffolkshepherd]

On annuals like Rye, Crimson Clover and vetch, there is no need to pull the roots. The roots will feed microbes and earth worms as they decay. Now if it is crabgrass or weeds, those roots will be growing new tops before getting back in the house, lol

[@alicias9928]

Anything grassy would be terrifying to use as a cover crop. I picture myself losing my mind and finally turning to Round up just to make the misery end. LOL.

[@suffolkshepherd]

@@alicias9928 lol I understand. annual rye grass is the only grass I use for cover crops. It will produce a lot of bio mass . And when temps hit 90 it dies completely. Even in places I wished it would keep growing like on hills where my live stock go. But nope, when summer comes, annual rye dies. Best wishes on your gardening.

[@GardenerScott]

The roots will decompose in time and are covered by beneficial microbes that can help the soil.

[@alicias9928]

My mom lives in 5b in Idaho. She is leaving for six months and will not be gardening in her raised beds this year. What would you recommend as a cover crop? A handyman will be stopping by every few days so he can give it a bit of hand watering, and I will be there about one a month if it needs to be trimmed and/or turned over. If possible, I would prefer it not become something that becomes invasive for her. The grass in this video was a bit scary, I'm not sure an old lady could keep it under control. Thanks!

[@GardenerScott]

You might consider a clover or vetch.

[@veronicawebb5382]

Can you start growing a winter rye cover crop in the early spring? My last frost date is May 15th, could I plant the cover crop in March and still have time for it to help my soil?

[@GardenerScott]

You can and it should grow through the whole season.

[@brooklinkayce7828]

Question: I usually put kitchen compost I’ve been accumulating thru the year into my garden bed in the fall then cover it with cardboard & rocks (to hold down cardboard) instead of cover crops. Do you think 1 is better than the other??

[@GardenerScott]

They do different things, but both can improve soil. The compost in fall is a good idea. Cover crops do more than improve soil, like limiting erosion, reducing weeds, and protecting soil.

[@cassie7946]

Hi Gardener Scott. I have winter rye in two raised beds. It is about 4’ tall and the seed heads are finally forming. However, I don’t have time to let it flower for good termination rates, so what should I do? I’m two weeks away from planting tomatoes in these beds.

[@GardenerScott]

You can cut it, turn it into the soil, or remove it in the areas you plant tomatoes. Throughout the season you can pull any of it that is still growing and in the way.

[@danbolton3180]

Probably not the right forum, but... put my pepper plants out to have gale forced winds shread them for the last few nights. I'm going to get more tarps to block the winds, but I'm pretty depressed about losing 2/3 of the plants I've raised since February. 🙃

[@GardenerScott]

They are tough plants that might recover. Protecting them now will help.

[@brianseybert2189]

I still have concerns using straw from inorganically fertilized straw bales as a mulch. In a huge pile of straw from last years straw bales not one earthworm was found. My concern is introducing all these soluble salts from the straw bales into my beds as a mulch. If I ever do straw bales again I will use organic fertilizers. Another key to having cover crops is to keep living roots in your bed over the winter. These roots help maintain a thriving microbiological soil community.

[@GardenerScott]

I prefer to use aged straw because salt is likely to leach out after a year exposed to weather and is less likely to be a problem.

[@brianseybert2189]

@@GardenerScott Thanks Gardener Scott, that was my plan. Appreciate your response.

[@alicias9928]

I forgot to ask, what is the mailbox for? Is that just a handy place to store hand pruners, scissors, knives, etc?

[@GardenerScott]

It's for storage. Here's the video on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3rVoXp5psiWbKc

[@growingonthegriddle4945]

Mr.Scott, why do you have strings hanging from your trellis's??

[@alicias9928]

He uses those strings to trellis tomatoes I think. I need to watch more to understand trellising. I have used tomato cages but during a good tomato year they fall over from the weight, then they are bent and not very good in future years. I need to search his feed for trellising and pruning tomatoes, something I have always been too scared to do.

[@GardenerScott]

Here's the video that explains them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHrQgHSZnsyInas

[@npast1]

I don't understand the need to use cover crops for a small garden. In my garden, I do succession planting to utilize all beds till late fall, and then simply till in some organic matter (leaf mold with rabbit manure, or some home-made compost) and mulch it heavily till next season. If I planted cover crops, I would need to stop planting late season cool crops in late August, so not sure if its even worth it?

[@davidlabelle4927]

Do you have a video about cover crops? A recipe.

[@mikeice9768]

Yes, check his fee from last fall, he did a fantastic video on the subject

[@GardenerScott]

Here's a video on that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKTKnqFqjNB3n9k

[@davidlabelle4927]

Thanks for responding. I did find the videos at the end. I'm delighted to find some of the seeds are native weeds already. I have let the mustard go full term for years already. I have clover and fall rye. I let mulan and chicory mature also. I've added dandelion after seeing your video.

[@marck1726]

Nice and instructive video, for the chopping of the grass I would rather use a good paddle hoe rather than a shovel to make it easier before turning in with the forrk.

[@jeanneleongmitchell1375]

what would be a good cover crop for Fall in UT zone 7b? or a Spring cover crop?

[@GardenerScott]

It depends on why you want a cover crop. This video explains more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKTKnqFqjNB3n9k

[@evilqueen13]

Unless it's mint lol. We made the mistake of just sticking some cut fresh mint from the grocery store in a bed to see what happened and it took, and it took off. It's a small raised bed on our deck so the mint is corralled, but getting the mint out of that bed is difficult and I'm still fighting with it. Every little piece you leave behind just sprouts again and the root system is like something out of a Lovecraftian nightmare.

[@laneeacannon1450]

So true. I fight it every year.

[@harshalshah4685]

Yep happened to me as well, now I have an endless supply of mojitos and juleps all thru the summer

[@hugelpook]

Won't turning the soil harm the microbes?

[@GardenerScott]

There are billions of microbes that won't be affected. Some will be disrupted, but the increase in organic matter is a big benefit and they recover quickly.

[@sandy-rr1by]

i don't want roundup anywhere in my garden beds.

[@coconoir6187]

Uncontaminated straw bales are hard to get nowadays. Even horse manure is said to be contaminated because they eat contaminated hay. It's sad. These once useful things now kill our veggies in the garden.