Radish and Crimson Clover Cover Crop Mix

[@davidbass7593]

I can see lots of great benefits there wow

[@downbntout]

The most beautiful soil!

[@bonniehibma3580]

Thanks, we planted that mix after a mid June hail storm that took out a corn field. The radishes are huge and headed out and putting seed out. The clover is a a foot tall. We are in northwest iowa. We re wondering moving forward what should we do? We plan on corn next spring. Should we cut them down in a month and let them dry up and strip till or just let them winter kill and try to plant into it next spring.

[@ciscofarmseed2513]

It’s always a bit intimidating when a cover crop unexpectedly does “too well.” In the end, I think the large amount of growth will be a good thing. The radishes will be breaking deep compaction layers and the crimson is fixing a lot of nitrogen at this stage in its life. The good news for this mix is that both ingredients will decompose quickly. The coming winter will kill the radishes and frost off all of the current clover growth. The crimson will likely survive the winter, but it’s growth will be starting from scratch next spring and most of the fall growth will have melted down and be decomposing - just like an established alfalfa field that went into winter with a large amount of top growth. I would plan to no-till plant your corn into this mix and burndown the clover when it’s 4-6” tall if you still have plenty of material on the ground. If it decomposes more quickly than you’d like, you can always let the clover get a little bigger for an increased N credit. Best wishes for your crop! Dustin Johnson Forage Agronomist The CISCO Companies

[@amandayeates185]

thank you for sharing this information. Did you plant these seeds at same time or one before the other, and if so what what time frame between the second

[@kevinmcgrath1052]

Great info ... more please

[@annfreewil9756]

👍👍juice the tender leaves of the radish as well😀

[@joefriday1982]

Did you plant it with fertilizer? Or just the mix? What was your seeding rate? Was that the first go around for cover crops in that sandy soil? Sorry, I am very curious as we have sandy soil too...

[@grassfeeding6073]

Likely no fertilizer. The radishes are a N scavenger that help prevent total system N loss over the winter and release it in a form that is more plant available in the spring. As long as you're not super acidic or low on P , K or calcium the crimson should be ok. It likes sandy, well drained soil. I would imagine the radish was 4-5lb/acre and the crimson was 15-18lb/acre. If I were planting these two species, I would add annual ryegrass at 15lb/acre, reduce the crimson 10lb/acre and the tillage radish to about 3lb/acre. Be sure to inoculate the clover if you do this.

[@toddweihl1418]

Do you harvest the radish or till it up in the spring

[@Yotaciv]

Todd Weihl It decomposes quickly in the spring. Stinks real bad but slowly releases the N back in the soil at a rate that the crop can handle.

[@mattvanmaar9701]

how long does it need in the fall to grow to see the benifit

[@ciscofarmseed2513]

You should see a benefit as soon as 6 weeks.

[@ronmacdougall9612]

How long does it take for the soil to get good.2 yrs,5yrs,and do you check soil to see what ph is .

[@Adam-bw4lw]

That depens on a lot of factors tho

[@SurfviewTV]

Great video! Are those radishes edible?

[@5hairballs]

Yes they are. I grow them in the fall to keep the soil loose and eat whenever I want fresh radishes.

[@mezleona]

Radish aerate the soil and permeates the soil dahhh i love radishes i am planting them to break up my clay gumbo soil along with the winter ray grass

[@GetRhythm2011]

I wonder if this mix would grow in north central CO plains...? Any idea from anyone?

[@lauramoy9940]

I've got crimson clover growing in my yard in Colorado Springs.

[@mezleona]

I can't believe these people are not using the daikon radishes they are great! Also, they are not given any credit to them