Benefits Of A Cover Crop - Garden Quickie Episode 58

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

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[@hope2029]

Hi, I want to grow a few things inside And was wondering if anything can grow well without being pollinated, also produce seeds. Could you do a video on that? Thanks so much.

[@sondraellison3178]

Love these garden quickie episodes. Short, sweet, and to the point! Can't wait to see the one!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Sondra!! 🙂

[@empresskimberly4410]

Please explain the next step. Do you chop and drop? Turn it over or pull it out?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

It's all covered here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrVeKyBo7eoqaM

[@empresskimberly4410]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thank you so much!!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@empresskimberly4410 no problem!!

[@marilynpounds4379]

What do you do with this cover crop after it grows? Okay, I found your other video “Harvesting Your Cover Crops” that explains what to do next - it’s at. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrVeKyBo7eoqaM

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yup, it's all there! :-)

[@toxicrune]

Thank you for posting. I hope you post a video with the whole process. I have some questions: 1. Why not use a diverse mix for cover crop? 2. How are you going to remove the cover crop?

[@sharonche5042]

See above comment - the link will answer your queries

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

🌈Can I plant them in the summer? 👻Should I let them bloom flowers first?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yes, I've planted cover crops in every month. I don't let them flower or seed.....that's asking for a heap of trouble!

[@sharonche5042]

Just watched your cover crop full video. Never come across this before - will definitely use this method in future. Thinking of planting a cover crop of something edible (peas?)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi Sharon, I suppose a cover crop can be any plant really....but the best ones have a specific growth habit and lend themselves to more coverage, like grasses and cereals. Alfalfa or clover are also good ones. :-)

[@shaunabattle2371]

Did you do a video on how you built the raised bed?

[@eddy8828]

Thanks. What was that cover crop in the video? Was it Rye?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Eddy, yes it is Fall Rye.

[@timothyshanley1132]

Can't find fine straw anywhere, I guess it's back to wood chips, gonna cut grass this week, will use some of that also. Prefer to use for compost,but will get a lot of that this season. Thx Timothy

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

⛈Can I plant them right beside the annual veggies and flowers?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Most definitely. Any bare soil can use a cove crop!

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms would cover crops make the regular plants grow worse if they are too close together?

[@mudpiemudpie785]

I really don't understand winter rye grass cover crops. Won't it just keep growing after you cut it down in spring like all grass? Do you have to pull it up by the roots? Won't it compete with other plants when you go to plant the bed in Spring? I'm all confused.

[@kevdimo6459]

It won’t if it doesn’t go to seed! I imagine that it would be dug in or turned over. A pea crop would do the same as well as fixing nitrogen into the soil.

[@toddvance4592]

Mud pie, you are not planting rye grass. Cereal rye / agricultural rye is what is planted for cover crop. This is an annual usually planted in the fall keeping a living root in the ground all winter. It will grow to 3-4 feet in springtime. Terminate it right before planting your vegetable crop. Use the straw for mulch.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

It's a grass, but it's not like you're lawn. It's an annual plant that burns out. Plus, if you cut right before seeding, the plant will be on its last legs and rarely ever sprouts back. It's all here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrVeKyBo7eoqaM

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@kevdimo6459 rugby Kev... And you don't even need to till or dig it in! Just plant right on top with the next crop and you're good to go!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@toddvance4592 exactly what Todd said.

[@dn744]

Thanks. Love good tips 👌

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers D N, thanks for watching!

[@naomi2646]

Jeff, I am scared to try cover crops, how do you get rid of the cover crops? I can't even get my winter spinach to stop producing. I cut off all 🍃 hoping to just leave the roots, but it's still growing. It turns out I don't like fresh spinach. Any videos on removing cover crops?

[@samuelluke1659]

I have a 2 by 10 raised bed for my strawberries I didn't account for the soil drop what do I do ....if I add more soil to it I bury the crowns please help...

[@Laceylady111]

I’m not understanding what happens after the cover crops come up. Wouldn’t they take a lot of soil if you are discarding them or are you pulling them up and then taking them back into the soil. And if you are planting crops in the same soil would deceive not receipt itself and come up within the newly planted vegetable

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

?? You don't pull up the cover crops Bonnie. No soil is removed. You cut them down right at the soil level. The whole time the cover crop is growing, it it bulking up the top soil, protecting it from wind, erosion, and excessive rain, and keeping the biological component active and healthy. If you're confused on how cover crops are harvested, this may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrVeKyBo7eoqaM

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Super👍👍

[@RonaldCarrington-y4l]

How do you terminate the cover crop?

[@j0nrages]

Do you only do this when not having your main production crop? Otherwise, wouldn't it also choke out your main plants?

[@Islandlife488]

How long did those bell peppers grow?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Lindsey...planted in May, harvested the last of them in September....so around 5-6 months?

[@Islandlife488]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms okay thank you I was just curious. I started my bell peppers march 1st. Last estimated frost date is May 1st. Fingers crossed they have enough time this summer

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@Islandlife488 I think you'll be fine Lindsey! :-)

[@nicholasnarcowich9163]

I do not have raised beds, Nor do I have time to waist in the garden. I work 70+ hrs a week working, delivering for FedEx, I can not water on time as I am working, Wife suffers too... :-( Like a doctor... she knows. . . Options???

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Grow perennials. Fruit bushes like blueberry, raspberry, or even strawberry. If you don't have the time, you don't have the time. No sense fighting it...

[@mikej9062]

Why not just add some compost? Then you could use the bed in the fall to grow Kale or Chard.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

People in colder regions don't have that option. Also, let a bed or area go fallow is a good soil practice.

[@attilathehun1107]

So how do you get rid of the cover crop when you want to plant in something useful?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Its all here...: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrVeKyBo7eoqaM

[@mikedoty8149]

shoude use ogs worm castimgs

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Love them... Use them all the time!

[@tudorpottudorpot8423]

Jeff, your Facebook page has been invaded, there have been multiple sexually suuggestive posts over the last few days, links take you to site which appears to be worse. I wasn’t up to letting explicit content on my device. Suggest that new members posts be reviewed. Freda