Mulching VS Cover Crops In the Backyard Garden | Which is Better

Mulching VS Cover Crops in the Backyard garden | Which is Better
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[@0anant0]

Thanks! I saw this video just in time as fall is quickly approaching. I went thru my pantry and took out all the 'old' peas, whole mung beans, cowpeas, garbanzo beans, fenugreek seeds, pinto beans, etc. Soaked them a couple of days in water and then spread them on all my raised beds. I now have a good layer of 'cover crop' going everywhere! The recent rains were a blessing!

[@kansasgardener5844]

I don't think many home gardeners use cover crops and that's a shame. Education is key and videos like this one are essential. Thanks.

[@iamorganicgardening]

So nice of you to say. THANK YOU so very much.

[@NZSaskia]

Now that I have inherited a neglected garden I'm starting with mulching while the groundcovers I planted grow. Great to see lifeless dirt go to being filled with fat worms and healthy.

[@iamorganicgardening]

It will be a beautiful site to see and enjoy nature. Thanks

[@journey2asimplelife]

Very clear and easy to understand explanation of how cover crops work! I’ve learned so much with just this one video thank you!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Great to hear that you Enjoyed this.. Always here to share and help. THANK YOU.

[@lindahipple4817]

I used both this past winter. After my string beans were finished this summer, their roots were 4 1/2 ft long and grew laterally. Never have seen this great root system in any of my gardens. I used the mulch to help with moisture retention, I don't water unless its' a new transplant. My tomatoes were grown from direct seed sowing and I've never had nicer tomatoes..Oxhearts and Cherokees. I like to use perrineal herbs like oreganno, chamomile, parsely, Toothach plant, walking onions, etc. year around to help the soil growth. God bless.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Great information to hear about what you did.. Nice roots and all .. Great touch use Herbs..THANK YOU.

[@lindahipple4817]

@@iamorganicgardening I have access to cooking herbs, etc most of the year, and a great way to minimize pests..God bless.

[@keenanisaacs5787]

This was exactly the video I needed. I’m moving into a new spot with bare soil in the backyard and I’m looming at amending it. I wasn’t sure if I should mulch or use a cover crop but now I’m sold on cover cropping now and mulching in the spring once my food crops are established. Thank you!

[@2700Kenny]

I believe you have the best videos on KZbin for this topic, thanks.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Wow, thanks!

[@floriebrown2089]

That comfrey is so lush and green beautiful tomatoes I have rescued 3 hedgehog during our very dry hot summer they now live in my garden and does the tilling of my soil in search of slugs and worm, my beans and tomatoes survived the rummaging around. Thanks for the video

[@iamorganicgardening]

So very good to hear of your rescued.. THANK YOU for sharing.

[@lindahipple4817]

Love hedge hogs, wish we had them here.

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

I know that geese work better than chickens because they don't mess with turning over mulch and just plunge beak into ground to get slugs n other bugs. They don't mess with your plants much if any. I'm going to start incorporating them in my system. So are you saying that hedgehogs have this same quality? They eat bugs and don't eat your veggies? lol I need to find me some hedgehogs if so lol I think they would have more exciting entertainment value although waterfowl are pretty comical farm creatures lol

[@floriebrown2089]

Obligate Carnivore yes the hedgehog is not visible during the day I just know they have been because my wood chips are no longer smooth with mushrooms growing from them. I do have a pair of geese they are lovely to watch they get rid of weeds and keep the grass closely cropped the male is a bit aggressive but if you watch him you can tell if he is going to attack I approach it like a dog and say no he knows to back off. Ducks are also great pest controller if they forage they eat less of the food you provide and they are safe around established veg plants.

[@xxtranZerxx]

I was wondering this the other day! Awesome job, I appreciate you making all these informative videos, I think your method is the most sustainable and efficient out of all of them.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU so very much..ENJOY

[@toddvance4592]

Thanks for the clarification. Have proceeded with cover crops for living roots 365 days a year.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Fantastic.. So great to hear... THANK YOU.

[@lenamccown5442]

Thanks, Mark. Beautiful tomatoes. Good to hear that you will keep making videos.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.

[@danielfisch655]

Great video, I'm learning a lot from you. Thank you for sharing another informative video. I have been using cover crops that includes mulch spread around them, with amazing results for the past three years.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for sharing what you have been doing and seeing ..

[@billherrick3569]

Excellent info. We use winter rye here in zone 3. Having made a few poly tunnels this year my beans were done early by mid August so I planted my winter rye right after and now in mid Oct the rye is so thick and rich. I can't wait to see what it looks like by planting time next season; usually June 1st +/-. I will probably obliterate it with a weed wacker and then rake it up to be reapplied as mulch around tomatoes which will go in that spot. Always interested in your discussions on cover crops. You have the best channel on gardening. Thankyou!

[@iamorganicgardening]

And you have the best garden and soil...THANK YOU.,

[@MsLallie]

Thanks for the video and that tomato was huge! I appreciate the information you share with us.

[@iamorganicgardening]

And it was so taste also.. THANK YOU.

[@jimwilleford6140]

Your articulate and clear presentations are very helpful to me. Thank you.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for watching and glad I can help.

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

I did good lol. 6 b here and have my cover crop planted. Now if the temperature will cooperate I will be fine. Great video! Thanks.

[@juliadahlin8245]

Exactly the information I needed, thank you!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Very Glad to hear and share. THANK YOU.

[@victorandrews9790]

Great analysis, thanks!

[@K3Flyguy]

Really nice video! Thank you for sharing!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Thank You for your kind words.. Happy 2020

[@elainelerner3337]

Wow, those were monster tomatoes! Well done.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU so very much and it was delicious too.

[@TsusokaYnM]

Great video! How do you plant starts or seeds in the spring, though? Do you just chop the cover crop and transplant in that area, same-day and the cover crop becomes mulch? How does that work if i'm starting with grass and not a prepared bed?

[@nickp.2432]

Solid information 👍. Soil food web is what it is all about!

[@iamorganicgardening]

You are 100% correct..

[@dr.froghopper6711]

Okay, I’ve put down about 6”-8” of leaves covered by a 2”-3” layer of horse manure. That’s on top of adobe soil that used to be a horse corral that’s very compacted. The corral was never cleaned so I know that the dirt already had quite a bit of manure anyway. We tried to till the garden area 2 years ago with limited success because of compaction. So this year I’m just trying to build soil and building raised beds. I need more clover!

[@TheologicalBackroads]

I really have benefited from your soil video series... It's a shame you don't have more views... But I do look forward to seeing how much the nutrition value in your crops improve as time goes on.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.. I am very glad it was helpful to you.

[@robmarkovitch]

Hi Mark, just yesterday, I had a conversation with my buddy Dave about this very topic. Lazy Dave still hasn't planted his covers despite me bugging him to do so. Maybe he'll listen to you. Do me a favor and tell Dave to get his ass in gear! Thanks. Always love your videos. Hope you had a productive and profitable growing season.

[@iamorganicgardening]

, DAVE, ... DAVE... DAVE... Just do it...Well Done.

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

I planted red clover and alfalfa cover crops in most of my soil beds. The first frost on average is September 11-20 and I think cold fall temperatures could kill it. When should I terminate them if I want to do chop and drop for maximum benefits?

[@KevinKimmich44024]

The point you made about straw is a really good one-you really don't know what you're getting most of the time.

[@iamorganicgardening]

This is so true.. THANK YOU for watching.

[@zachfox7771]

both! right good point, the mycorrhizae gets its food from the plants

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU.

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

I love my comfrey. I like to chop it down to the base 3 or 4 times a season, mulch plants with it and then put a layer of hay or leaves on top to keep the nitrogen from off gassing into the air

[@iamorganicgardening]

Well done. THANK YOU for sharing.

[@MakkIsLooking]

Good info - thanks!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for watching.

[@MakkIsLooking]

You are welcome.

[@happygardener28]

A point for cover crops, in a new area, is to build nitrogen (as well as building soil) until the system is up and running properly. We've a glut of carpenter ants in my neighborhood, so I daren't use wood chips. I've burnt downed limbs to create biochar for my new garden and added some sand and lime to break up some of the excess clay. I didn't burn the wood all the way through to let the inside decay naturally while the charred exterior deters any termites and ants. Next year I hope to use some of the information you've shared.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Years ago it was said to produce nitrogen.. That is no long true. You have all the nitrogen in yous soil that you need. You must grow the soil food web. PLEASE watch my 2019 soil series and a top soil professor will state what I just said. THANK YOU

[@robc2536]

Very informative. Thanks for the information. Would you consider wood sorrel and plantain a form of cover crops. ? I have an over-abundance of both growing in my garden.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, they are very good to have.

[@iikmubarakachmad3054]

you have a great video but,, please let me know, how do the plants get nutrients like phosphorus and potassium when you say that (at 5th minute) your plants did not use the fertilizers and did not use the compost, pardon me my english is not fluent and I new commer in agriculture, because I just known that covercrops works with nitrogen fixation,, many thanks for your responce

[@FishOnIsMyHandle]

Had October tomatoes for lunch today!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Awesome...

[@hagenoft]

Thanks for all the information. I've learned and practiced a lot from you. I planted bocking 14 a couple weeks ago. I hope they take off so I can spread them all around. Does regular lawn grass count as a living root in the ground. Not that it really matters to me now cause most of my lawn is wood chips. Just curious. I assume it does.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Glad to hear about your planting of comfrey. Regular grass is not to much a helper.

[@Thumper7818]

I live in NJ as well. Right before you said winter rye I was thinking of annual rye as an over winter crop. I can’t wait for that video, or do you have one out already?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Type in my channel search bar - winter rye. There are a few already. Thanks

[@akammerman]

Wow, that tomato must have been delicious! I added some wood chips two years ago to some beds. This year, I want to put a foot or two of fall leaves on the beds. I want to stay with fall leaves from now on because they are easier to source. I'll also use some cover crops, and I have perrenials in each bed to keep a living root. My question is: do I need to pull out (or back) the wood chips and put the fall leaves on top of the soil? Or can I just put the fall leaves on top of everything, wood chips and all? To clarify, my wood chip level is only a couple of inches deep at the most, and there are some spots where there are none at all, so it wouldn't be too much of a chore to pull them out (or back).

[@iamorganicgardening]

It was, so very much. Leaves on top of every thing will work out just perfect.

[@dandyman251]

Was that a big rainbow tomato? I replanted my bushes elsewhere, put a fence up and planted a garden. First time ever. My garden came out great, in what I am told was the worst year ever. Gardening is going to take a great deal of study to really get good at it. Thanks for the info.

[@iamorganicgardening]

The most important thing is you will always have fun..trying to learn More. Enjoy.

[@rufia75]

Here's the thing. I backyard garden in zone 3a. We get many weeks of -25 to -30 celsius and some days of -35 even (nights potentially colder) in the coldest parts of the year. There are zone 3 perennials that will overwinter and we of course, have those. However, they are not in the annual vegetable garden because that would make no sense. You'd have to kill or uproot them every spring, to get your actual vegetable crop in. An annual vegetable garden in zone 3 quite simply has months of the year where there is no living root because it is not practical. Unless you are suggesting we take up vegetable gardening space with comfrey or other perennials? I am considering doing some cover cropping beginning about mid-august next year (interplanting) with maybe alfalfa for deep roots, tho it will die with the cold and would end up as a chop and drop sort of situation.

[@iamorganicgardening]

How about a few strawberry plant that you just leave in rows and plant you annuals next to them? There is always more options

[@fatihakhan4381]

what can we plant in a moderate climate condition in turkey.

[@tomfisher3117]

Hi Mark, 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?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Is your cover crop a winter kill type? If not place the leaves in the walk way and then cover the cover crop next year when you are ready to plant. If you cover crop kills over in the winter you can cover it now. Enjoy.

[@tomfisher3117]

@@iamorganicgardening Thanks Mark, that is exactly what I'm doing. Happy Thanksgiving my friend!

[@iamorganicgardening]

@@tomfisher3117 And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you also. Enjoy.& Thanks

[@TheCulinarycontessa]

Thank you for teaching us the value of what you learned along the way. Have you done a video pertaining to gopher control/management? I have lost more to gophers than I've ever reaped at harvest, losing some crops entirely. I despise those greedy bastards; they're ruthless

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sorry I have not... Te best thing is a electric fence. Not very cheap. Or set out live catch traps and drive 30 miles away a release.

[@Fish5919]

.22 shorts are pretty quiet

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Cats cats cats cats

[@tallcedars2310]

In zone 3b we have a mostly no till garden that weeds grow in. I also have perenials & berry bushes scattered throughout that are mulched with hay & compost. It's a sorry sight to the eyes but it works and provides enough root crops to get us by most of the time. I do have a question, would leaving weeds in the garden help create that food web? Our perennial weeds like chickweed, plantain, clover, dandelions, johnny jump ups etc are kept as a food crop. The weeds we let grow are amazing, they are large, bug free and provide great salads all season long. I often wonder if weeds in the garden are there for a reason and your video has me thinking they are there for a reason. It would sure save a lot of money, time and energy if weeds could help the soil, thanks Mark. P.S. I do have comfrey but it's in one clump. I will divide it and scatter it around the garden since it's good for the fungi, thank you again!

[@iamorganicgardening]

The weeds you list are not weeds.. Just google them and they are in the herd family.. Which helps the soil food web and builds/grows soil. If you can eat the weed it is not a weed but a herb. THANK YOU for asking.

[@tallcedars2310]

@@iamorganicgardening Good to know what I formerly called edible weeds are actually herbs, had no idea! And love that they help build/grow soil, it makes it well worth leaving some around the garden. I have a wild lettue that is psready roots all over the place. Now I won't worry about it but try to incorporate it as part of the wild garden, thank you Mark.

[@critterjon4061]

The main benefit of cover cropping over mulch is the ability to use it at a much larger scale as it is almost impossible to do a traditional style garden (not using individual beds) that is larger than 1/2 acre due to the large amounts of labor required

[@iamorganicgardening]

Just to give you some more NEW info there is over 300+ types of endo mycorrhizal fungi that grow in the soil. BUT they need a living root to be a host to live in. Mulch can not do that. Thanks

[@keinegutennamen]

Clover has the added benefit of being nitrogen fixing. So although you didnt fertilize per se, the clover adds natural fertilizer and then addition nutrients when it dies and breaks down.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Correct , just as any other green cover crop.

[@raqueliatheimpatientgardne8196]

I watched a video where the person said you have to space out all your vegeys in a raised garden so they don't compete for root space. But from listening to your explanation it seems as if roots are good to have. what are your thoughts?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Everything like its own space to grow. Growing lots of roots helps build soil when you are growing cover crops in the non growing season of vegs, etc. Two different times and rules for growing each one. and also depends what size vegs you wish to harvest. Whet planting lets say lettuce the close you plant the small the leaves. Plant lettuce with more space bigger the leaves

[@jerseygalk1554]

There is crimson clover and perslane in my 4x8 raised beds. And I mulch because I have tons of it, home made. I top with compost. If I put comfrey in there It would greatly reduce my space. How would you manage raised beds?

[@iamorganicgardening]

You are doing the correct way. The crimson clover is a living root over winter in planted in early fall. even garlic helps.

[@jerseygalk1554]

@@iamorganicgardening my garlic is planted! Thanks Mark.

[@greatdanerescuemom1]

i have a brand new area (was my horses pen) that i just started to break open the dirt to get the lovely NJ smartweed pulled up. what do you suggest for a cover crop. i am in gloucester county nj. half is sand and the other half is amazing top soil due to the composted manure.. blessings - my other garden i never did cover crops, have straw mulch and plastic cover.

[@iamorganicgardening]

How large is this area? and what items do you what to grow?

[@greatdanerescuemom1]

@@iamorganicgardening the pen is 100x100 roughly, i have cleared about 50x75 so far. used a pull behind tiller thing, to brek it up a bit it was like concrete. melons, tomatoes, potatoes, squash etc. i am all organic and will be putting my chicken manure over it sometime this winter, but i think it is too late now for a cover . sandy rocky and part is amazing top soil due to horses pooping in it for the last 30 yrs....

[@billvivianmaddox793]

I'm in South Carolina with red clay dirt but not too much. The field I want to get ready for gardening in the Spring is field grass and weeds. So I'm thinking about planting a poly culture variety of cover crop that will feed the goats and sheep and chickens during the Winter. If we manage their grazing what else would you recommend to get a small plot ready for planting in the Spring?

[@iamorganicgardening]

That is a good plan. Just do not graze to bare soil. Must be a least 7 inch tall when you move them daily ..

[@levipearson8193]

Tillage radishes and crimson clover might help, but I'm no expert. The radishes should help loosen the soil, and the clover should help with nitrogen

[@mjvaquatics2626]

Did you consider the forest floor? The prairie uses cover crops, but not the forest floor...both methods seem to work in nature....right?

[@alainroy8997]

I'm new to your channel, I have a bit of conflict, if I use wood chips such as cedar and decide to put a cover crop in fall, let's say winter rye, isn't it a problem planting your rye with the wood chips in the way? Do I need to remove them? Thanks for any help...

[@iamorganicgardening]

Hello and welcome. Just rake the wood chips aside into the pathway you walk on and plant the winter rye in the soil you uncovered. then when you plant you crop cover that area again with wood chips.

[@alainroy8997]

@@iamorganicgardening Thanks for the info, all my beds are raised, so it might make that solution a bit difficult, but I guess removing them might not be so bad... good exercise.

[@terrygabriel5945]

Hi, currently I have a layer of mulch in my one year old 100 square ft garden. It was nice fertile soil and was existing when we bought the house but not really used. I want to practice a no till method and plant some crimson clover cover crop as I live in Canada. How would you recommend planting the clover with the existing mulch ?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Just rake back the mulch into your pathways. And place seed on top of the soil that you exposed and rake in to the correct depth and water.

[@terrygabriel5945]

@@iamorganicgardening when would you recommend spreading back the mulch…thank you for the advice.

[@nagmeldinismail7215]

Do you move away the leaves or wood chips to grow the cover crop or do you grow in it?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, move it away. Thanks

[@Ryin88]

How often can you "harvest your comfrey"? Can I just clear cut the comfrey each time it get as bushy as yours does in the video? or do I need a leaf or two to keep the plant alive?

[@iamorganicgardening]

You can remove half the leaves at any time. But must have at least 12 leaves to start.

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

Do you turn the cover crop under? or just terminate it at the top and let the root system decompose underneath. I've gotten really good results in my sandy loam soil by only broadforking lightly without inverting layers an mulching with maple leaves and leaf mold. I've tried having living roots in but they are hard to work around. I've found the immune system of my plants are much better when I don't invert the soil layers. I only do when I have to which is only for potatoes. When I plant root crops I get better roots if I don't have much other plant roots decomposing in the soil. All above ground plants that fruit and aren't underground roots I've found that I can just get a spade fork after aerated the bed and just crack the soil open and drop a transplant in and just close it back up. Seems all the buckwheat,daikon or rye roots feed the plants the whole time. I'm in zone 5a Michigan. I'm like the only one in my area that I know that doesn't have any black spots on the base of the tomato plant near the ground. Totally clean all the way up until frost

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

Sorry about my whacky sentence structure. I type fast and think later LOL

[@iamorganicgardening]

No turning the cover crop under is necessary. Yes. cut and drop only Please. I have the same result with my tomatoes as you see in the video.. Health y soil Healthy Plants. THANK YOU so very much for your info.. Very Helpful.

[@iamorganicgardening]

All OK.

[@aprilhumen1229]

Newbie! What are your thoughts about doing a living mulch in flower beds? I’m thinking about using strawberries and/or clover in my flower beds. Would the clover or strawberries hinder growth of perennials that have yet to come up? Also would the clover take over and be a nightmare?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Hello and Welcome. Here is some good news. If you have perennials in their already that is like a cover crop. Due to you have already a living root in the soil all the time. The top plant part does not have to be green all the time just a living root is need, THANKS

[@aprilhumen1229]

@@iamorganicgardening thank you for the response!

[@calebrockstedt]

So wait, you do both anyway? I don't really understand the distinction then. Which should I do?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I do both only because I can. Because I Have the material. If I did not have leaves / mulch I would use a cover crop. Which is better then just mulch . The living root in the ground is always better over winter.

[@gabrielmunteanu]

Most people use clover or winter rye as cover crop. I am trying an evergreen cover crop this winter: vinca minor. I think it stays green more time than the other 2. Anybody tried such a cover crop?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Very nice let me know how that works... Good Luck and THANK YOU.

[@jimwilleford6140]

Question sir. Do fall leaves need to be shredded to be used as winter mulch for my Permaculture beds?

[@iamorganicgardening]

No, not at all they are not spreader in nature. Just place no more then two inch. You can make a pile near your garden to save for the following spring as leaf mold also.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Nope you can leave them whole. I like to shred them (and mix with green grass) just because it looks neater and is easier to deal with. But it's not necessary.

[@Agr414]

Have you ever inoculated any edible mushrooms in your woodchips?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I have not yet.. Thanks

[@pattihayden8100]

Mark, next year I’m moving to my boyfriends property that has over 250 immature pecan trees in Texas . What do you recommend for a weed suppression around the trees so we don’t have to weed wack the grasses that grow constantly? I’m thinking a cover crop that will add nutrients....? Am I right? If so what type that will build a healthy root system for the trees? Thank you for sharing

[@lindahipple4817]

Keep in mind which method you plan to use to harvest the pecans, that will help you to decide. Just a quick mow under the trees prior to harvest or end of season die off of cover crop. Either way you may have to move the tall thatch b4 picking up pecans from the ground. Contact your Ag extension and research an organic approach. There are several considerations. Good luck with your new project. God bless.

[@michaelripperger5674]

Patti Hayden welcome to Texas. You will love it

[@iamorganicgardening]

Best of luck with your move.. Sorry for the delay, tried to get some research on this. Lots of factors I do not know about, your climate. The best thing to do is take a drive and see what other people are doing and why. Again Sorry That I can not give you any info.

[@michaelstangl3497]

Patti check out www.greencoverseed.com/compost/?BenchmarkEmail& n you may want to view all their videos for cover crops. They can also help.

[@natureboy6410]

In this area, southern tip of Nevada, Mohave desert, 2,500 elevation, if you don't build the soil up first, with compost or mulch, it doesn't matter what seed that you try to use as a cover crop, it won't grow. You'll just be feeding the collard doves.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I understand you point. But is is due to lack of micros in your soil. You can plant seeds but must use compost tea also.

[@cme123tr]

What plants do you use for cover crops?

[@iamorganicgardening]

For me in New Jersey zone 6 b . You must find out what USDA zone your in by googling it first. And call a seed company to find what works for your area. I use fall cover crops like winter rye, all types of clover.

[@elainelerner3337]

There's a great new documentary film called "The Need to Grow" which I think you'd enjoy.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Will look into to it... THANK YOU.

[@raqueliatheimpatientgardne8196]

Will look this one up had not seen it. There is another one called 'living soil,' and homestead paradise by Kirsten Dirksen. Talks all about cover cropping. thanks for the share.

[@mudwellies1]

What type of clover did you plant? Will it winterkill because I don't want to have to kill it using newspaper and I don't till

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sorry , it does not winter kill. I wish to have a living root in the ground over winter.

[@saltlifess6226]

I'm gardening/ growing all year since I live in Florida. So I'm guessing I don't need to do a cover crop?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Correct. Thanks

[@zachfox7771]

you always need your soil covered. and mulch grows the bio mass. to seed under the mulch might be the best bet

[@iamorganicgardening]

Good point. THANK YOU.

[@darrenlewis7001]

Is the clover a perennial cover crop? And do you just make a hole and plant the tomatoes or do you have to cut the clover down?

[@darrenlewis7001]

I'm looking for a perennial cover crop I don't have to plant every year

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes.. that is correct on both.

[@darrenlewis7001]

Thanks

[@edmondsonoffgridhomestead8932]

Does this work with clay soil?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, in any soil.

[@suesmith4325]

When do you plant clover for winter? Is it too late to do it now?

[@iamorganicgardening]

What zone are you in?

[@amputeescangardeen5409]

chips are good for no till gardens where you let your crop till the soil naturally

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, you are correct. But you need a living root in your garden all the time. When you crop is not there to grow mycorrhizal fungi to build soil aggregates Thus cover crops.

[@jimmyrichardson67]

I put compost on then a cover crop this year. See what happens😎

[@iamorganicgardening]

That is a great start.. THANK YOU.

[@Ronelbey]

Is it too late to grow a cover crop in a raised bed zone 6b/7?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, The seed you need is called winter rye.

[@Ronelbey]

@@iamorganicgardening thank you

[@taylorkuhla4327]

You should probably define "build soil." A foot of wood chips will decompose to 1 to 2 inches of top soil in 2-5 years depending on if you do things (like add mushroom spawn) to speed it up. If that's not "building soil," I don't know what is.

[@robkoss]

He has defined "build soil" in great detail in many of his videos.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Please watch my SOIL series 2019. It will answer all your questions. ENJOY

[@oddopops1327]

👋😊

[@iamorganicgardening]

Thanks

[@debramurphy4295]

Tomatoes sandwich sounds good

[@iamorganicgardening]

Great, They are the best. THANK YOU.

[@MUDDUCKS47]

Im surprised you dont have any chickens

[@iamorganicgardening]

They would not last a few days. With all my Foxes I have here. THANKS.

[@joe4324]

Its my opinion they will never produce a total-net-output for you. Imagine all the time you spend managing them, putting up coops, fences, chasing them around. shooing away foxes, buying/feeding them in the winter. Now put that time into any oil soil/fertility building exercise you could do, call in for mulch/leaves. Planing richer cover crops, doing experiments growing fungus etc. You will always come out ontop without some type of 'scheme' to cheat or rob a different system of energy, such as free foodwaste to feed the chickens, or a spare building already unused etc. Ive seen it a hundred times, I think animals in 98% of cases are a home-steaders bane, they just don't understand it because it 'seems like what you should do'. Its not!

[@Mothana808]

I feel sad to see this channel has less than 30k subbs

[@iamorganicgardening]

No need to be sad.. I am glad you found my channel and the others. 26 K. THANK YOU.

[@obadiahscave]

Wood mulch builds soil. It just takes a long time to get there.. I think cover crops get there quicker...

[@iamorganicgardening]

Wood chips covering by itself will never grow mycorrhizal fungi in the soil because it needs a living root in the ground to host that living fungi.

[@Judster]

that tomato looked like a pumpkin

[@iamorganicgardening]

And it Taste great also. THANK YOU.

[@cynthialouw2970]

What about white ants? They are attacking the tree roots.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I am sorry I do not understand your question? Are the rots dear or alive. Where do you live. ETC. Can you give me more info...Please

[@cynthialouw2970]

Apologies. Did or do you have any problems with white ants? Thanks for your fantastic explanation on why to keep living roots in the ground. There are many white ants where I live and am gardening. I live in Zimbabwe. My son is growing pecan trees and they don't have any cover crops. They do have grass growing near the trees due to the drip irrigation for the trees. Do you have any suggestions on how to stop the white ants eating the tree roots?

[@iamorganicgardening]

@@cynthialouw2970 Place a piece of rotten food in bucket or something they like to eat. hen they go into the bucket trap them with a lid and kill them.

[@spaideman7850]

only theories?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Hello, When you have some time google Mycorrhizal Fungi. For both types to grow and build soil you need a living root of any plant to be living and a host to it to grow. Mulch does not due that. THANKS for asking. Happy New year to You all.

[@judeirwin2222]

Too much repetition, and you never actually showed what we came to see, I.e. cover crops either being sown or in situ.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Hi, At the end of the video I state in the next video or too I will be showing how to plant up winter rye and other cover crops. Hope you will watch.. THANK YOU for your comment.

[@joshmann7587]

i didnt come to see that.......... quite easy to sow seeds, plenty of information on thar, even comes on each seed packet.

[@shaeshae9831]

hate to break it to you and hate to bust your bubble but even though you think your are good if you're not I'm going to let you know I was pretty mad when I found out too because I am a Michigan Gardener who is organic and found out that our government has been chemically spraying us from the airplanes above onto our ground so anybody saying that there are ganic is really not organic when they're being sprayed with lithium aluminum barium strontium and stuff like that so the little dots that you're seeing on your tomatoes and leaves that are like black that's the chemical Mist falling from the air that's being sprayed out of the airplane in those cracks is where all the let's say most of the chemical landed so it's going right into your tomato as it grows that's why most of the tomatoes nowadays are forming cracks on the top

[@valeriesalazar2743]

Tomatoes form cracks from over watering.