Harvesting Your Cover Crops

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you're just starting out gardening in 2021, this inexpensive set of tools from Amazon can get you and your Lettuce up and running this spring! I know there is a fevered and renewed interest in gardening and many of you are seasoned vets. But remember that there's a whole population out there that hasn't gardened before. Let's help them out and encourage as much as possible! Affiliate links below: Amazon USA: amzn.to/2xXLfbG​​​​ Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aoN1AN​​​​ Amazon U.K.: amzn.to/2XrQA5A​​​​ The 10x20 nursery trays are a gardener's NECESSITY. Use the Amazon Affiliate links below to find the right ones! Amazon USA: amzn.to/2JFB4uM​​​​ Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2wQCeBd​​​​ Amazon U.K.: amzn.to/2xepyEi​​​ Other essential gardening gear links: 12-piece Garden Tool Set!: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk​​​​​​​​ Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx​​​​​​​​ Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql​​​​​​​​ Hand Pruners: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP​​​​​​​​ Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq​​​​​​​​ Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8​​​​​​​​ Watering Can: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc​​​​​​​​ Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YR3p94​​​​​​​​ Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa​​​​​​​​ Spray Gun: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm​​​​​​​​ Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS​​​​​​​​ Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z​​​​​​​​ Gardening Gloves: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx​​​​​​​​ Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t​​​​​​​ Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU​​​

[@SnowinSummer37]

Thank you!!! 😊

[@joanies6778]

Excellent! This is info I needed. After the first bed prep mixing the existing soil with mulch, peet moss, and raised bed soil, I do no till gardening. This shows me how to incorporate the cover crop so as not to disrupt that process. Thank you so much!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Joanie! It really is an important component of the no-till process..especially if there's any time when the beds are dormant. :-)

[@Maggie-eq4cd]

Just what I needed to know. I love the way you give precise information. You are a great teacher. Thanks again Maggie UK

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@Maggie-eq4cd thanks Maggie, happy to help! Glad you got something from this one!

[@WinsomeWinslet]

So much info in one video! WOW! I'd love to see you do a video where you go over different types of cover crops and what some are good for planting before certain crops. Thanks again for great, succinct videos!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Definitely want to explore Cover Crops deeper.. Different kinds as well as what's best for what climate/season!

[@Randy_Smith]

I have watched MANY videos about cover crops and none of them gave as thorough and easy to understand explanation as yours. Finding info about planting cover crops is easy but this is the first time I've been shown step by step instructions for how to terminate them and then plant in the spring. Many, many thanks! Between these cover crop vids and your Pepper God series you have another subscriber

[@maryrekar2150]

Thank you so much for this clear and concise tutorial on cover crops

[@BlogTVisraelTracert]

Oh man i love you so much. Waking up in the morning and seeing you on KZbin makes my day 🙂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I super appreciate the support, as always!! :-)

[@tlwky4213]

I agree with you !!!

[@LSinclair]

This answered my questions about how sow then cut cover crops! So grateful, thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cover Crops are truly useful...and when implemented in a no-till style of gardening? Almost necessary!

[@sjr7822]

I like the newspaper/craft paper method 07:10, going to give this a try

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Trust me, it really does work. The cover crop prevents any weeds from coming up all winter...then the paper barrier really hammers that home. Its amazing. You can be weed free in literally a single year without any crazy work or chemicals.

[@tlwky4213]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I was blown away with your use of craft paper. You know I have already gone online to order my own roll ! Our beds are 4ft wide, so I will have to do a double pass, but I LOVED your use and thought it was great for weed suppression. Awesome tips !

[@sjr7822]

I got several serrated blade kitchen utility knives from our thrift store for .75 each, just to cut comfrey and weeds, works like a charm and doesn't hurt my hand as scissors were doing, causing blisters and cramping. 06:13 There are some places you just got to get down on your knees to do the job! Also, got a pair of knee pads recently

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Definitely. scissors over the course of the 8 beds like this I had to do were quite brutal on the fingers! :-)

[@tlwky4213]

I had just bought a small short handled sithe (sp?) blade, and think it will do a great job cutting the cover crops in our raised beds !

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@tlwky4213 that's awesome! Love to see it in action!

[@sjr7822]

@@tlwky4213 Let us know how it goes, I've been out cutting weeds into the roots so I could pull them up, with my thrift store kitchen knife

[@ferferiify]

Thank you so much . So informative and helpful. I had no idea what the gardeners do with their own cover crops. I even learned about this method here in your account but never used it because I have just a small bed to plant in my terrace. Now with these infos. I am going to try this method this year . Wish me luck 😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for watching! Yeah, traditional agriculture simply digs the crop back into the soil before it seeds....with the no-till method, all you have to do is cut it down at the surface, mulch it, then replant the new crops! Super super easy on you.....AND your soil!

[@tlwky4213]

The way that you present the information that you share is INVALUABLE !!! I get SO much "know-how" out of what you show, AND, you have a real knack for taking the "scary" out of things. Thank you so much! We built raised beds this year, and I am going no-till in our fields. With this video you explained how to, why to, and when to do cover crops. We had such awful weed pressure last year, that we almost thru in the trowel ( :o)), but we press on. Now, I am less afraid of cover crops, and will certainly be making them a part of not just our fields, but also our raised beds !!! Who knew ?!?! :o)

[@brandywvstrong9673]

Awesome information!!! Thank you 😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for watching Brandy! :-)

[@Ronelbey]

First time using a cover crop for 2020 winter and cut it down today. I'm going to wait a week or so to till it in. Then put down my weed fabric down. My last frost date is 5/11 to 20/21...going to plant watermelons and Cantaloupes, mini squash in the spot.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Ronel! I got watermelons and cantaloupes coming in soon as well! Best of luck!!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

helpful as we are going from raising animals to raising more vegetables

[@MechanicMark613]

Thank you, I have looked for what to do from start to finish but nobody tells this info but you

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Mark, glad to help!

[@trilwenmactavian1275]

You the man thank you for doing this

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Trilwen! Much appreciated!

[@tassiegirl1991]

This was so informative, I’ve heard & read a bit about cover crops and their benefits but not seen the application including once grown and definitely not in a raised bed. You have armed us with so much invaluable information, especially important when & how to cut and how you then re plant. I would have ripped all the roots out....yes I know, well now I do. I wonder could I try it on a small scale in grow bags? A very huge thank you for all you share.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for watching Tassie, appreciate it! The issue with going smaller scale like pots and grow bags is that they are "close systems". They don't really have a soil profile or access to the earth like a traditional garden would. For sure, you could preserve the top layer and mulches/living mulches are always beneficial, but with pots where the soil is often replaced every season, a cover crop is less useful. Hope that helps! :-)

[@tassiegirl1991]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thank you I hadn’t thought that through, early am ANZAC day awakening to bugle down below us on the beach where our local memorial is

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@tassiegirl1991 Cheers!

[@nathanfuelling2577]

I would like to see a video on cover crops in conjunction with companion planting ie basil and tomatoes together and how that all works if you're growing them up from seed together

[@suzanneweary9739]

Thanks for the info!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Welcome Suzanne, thanks so much for stopping by to watch! :-)

[@ritzileclaire5990]

Perfect. I have winter rye I’m going to cut down where the corn will go. I star the corn indoor for a better result since our May is purely wet. I’ll cut the rye this weekend to give the roots time to dye off. Thanks!

[@peacefulgarden]

I don't have raised beds at the moment and I was wondering what you thought of using a cover crop at the SAME time as vegetables. Let me clarify my thought, I was thinking clover in the spaces between my rows of tomatoes, fennel, kale, etc. I would be able to step on it without worry, bees would bee happy :) and it would act as a great soil cover. I have the damnedest time finding adequate mulching materials other than my grass clippings (and not much of those!). Waddaya think Jeff? Am I being optimistically silly or phenomenally brilliant, hehehe...

[@palliaskamen5722]

I use red clover between my tomatoes.

[@dreamweaver5516]

Thank you very good video! 👍🏻

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Valerie! Enjoy the weekend! :-)

[@nathanfuelling2577]

Can you no till method in pots? Or is that craziness.

[@carolynsteele5116]

Excellent!! Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Carolyn, thanks so much for watching! :-)

[@gaiaawakened1773]

thank you

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Gaia, most welcome! :-)

[@tomfisher3117]

Hi , thanks for another great video. I'm faced with a bit of a dilemma. I planted a cover crop in my garden beds. Right now they are about 10" tall. After planting and germination, I found a source for leaves so I ordered 18 cubic feet of leaves for my 1100 sq. ft. garden. I have pretty good soil, originally hard clay, as I have taken care of it for years. So, here's my dilemma: Although I am composting a good portion of the leaves, I still have probably 12-15 cubic yards of shredded (once) leaves to deal with. I was thinking about putting the rest of my shredded leaves on my garden walks, letting the cover crop grow in my beds until, terminating it in the spring. Then I could rake shredded leaves onto my beds after I plant. My second option would be to terminate my cover crop right now and cover the beds with shredded leaves. Which option would you choose?

[@GirlMomma]

Thank you so much for this video! I was wondering if I could plant my trans plants that are about 6 to 18 in into the garden at night? I've heard you should plant them in the morning but I didn't know why. Thank you so much!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

For sure! I plant at night all the time! Go for it!

[@GirlMomma]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms awesome thanks!!👏

[@deniserosburg9663]

So, I am blessed to have my own home now and am excited to start gardening again. I have subscribed to your channel and a few others, and I have learned so much my head is about to explode...lol I watched another video that said Daikon radishes was a good cover crop for clay soil. Just leave it in the ground to rot and it will help improve the clay soil. I love this idea and want to plant them all over my back yard that has grass over it now. What are your thoughts on this if you don't mind?

[@mikyahalbena-yasharal3387]

This is year number two for me! I am implementing also a technique where I am switching the beds: beds that were alkaline, are now acid it crops. And befs that were acidic crops, are now alkaline crops. What do you think is this a productive method?

[@A1lifestyle005]

Professor Tomato 🍅Plant 🌱 whisperer 🤗

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha cheers santosh!

[@xuecheng2713]

Québec here, so long winter. Do I need to grow cover crop since there is nothing growing during winter anyways?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey xue....you don't NEED to.....but up here in Canada, with the long dormancy period, its highly beneficial! :-)

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

If I am just using alfalfa cover crops, can I cut them almost to the soil level next spring, then plant regular plants like veggies right among them? I heard that alfalfa roots go deeper than most regular plants so they wouldn't block the veggies from growing. Is that true?

[@wayneburks5872]

Iam just starting to get interested in cover crops I haven't before because I didn't know how to kill it when I wanted it removed. So thaks for the info. Would austrian peas be good mix with the rye. Or should I just plant one or the other? I wold not be able to do this like you are doing it because I have 10 beds that are 4 ft by 35 ft . Then another garden that is 15ft by 100ft. How would you do those gardens? Oh I am a new subscriber. Good info.

[@bmar740]

How do you avoid pests in your organic garden with that much dead leaf and mulch?

[@grandpoobah100]

How long does it take to get Rye to harvest? I’m in zone 5. I need to cut it back my May 1 to make sure I can plant my garden on June 1. Will the Rye be ready to harvest my May 1 if I plant it the prior fall ?

[@RunningRlust96]

What cover crops do u recommend?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Fall Rye, Winter Rye, Buckwheat, Hairy Vetch, Red Clover, Alfalfa.....

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

I don't understand how cover crops are going to survive with a foot of snow over them. ???

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Tons of crops survive with snow on them. Garlic, Strawberries, Blueberries, etc

[@jada1230]

the brown paper decomposes?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Totally... Within weeks

[@jada1230]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Jeff is your paper same as those in brown paper bags?

[@markrodgers1965]

Hi 🙋‍♂️

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Mark!

[@kingkha5672]

Too much info! And Ugh snowed again a bit and my watermelon seedlings have their first true leaves matured! Awesome stuff well I really still can't believe they survived this harsh cold weather Oh, I forgot... ... Blood freezing cold is the typical of Canada!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Snow again!?? Its almost May! I feel your pain..... Hang in there! :-)

[@supernitrosgamingsng6582]

Ooh I’m early

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha, hey buddy!

[@janahmed1083]

E