From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lexington, Ky

My first cover crop of winter wheat planted in mid October is 5 inches tall already. Was thinking about turning it in and doing a second crop in December, by March I could plant a third and it would be ready to turn in May....pros cons? The risk would be a super cold Dec/Jan on the second crop but I could recover with the second crop by March.

11/3/2014 7:15:56 PM

Colorado

You might let the current one go till early spring. If you trim it with a weed wacker it wont go to seed (or mature)and youll get good root formation. You can see in spring whether you need to plant a second round or keep it going.

11/3/2014 9:01:42 PM

Springfield, Missouri

It really depends on what you want. My focus it to build my soils organic matter as much as possible. Your cover will produce more and more lignin as it ages. Lignin resists decomposition, is a major contributor to humus. In contrast cellulose (the major structural component in younger plants) is more easily digested by soil microbes, and turned into CO2 (not major contributor to humus).

Letting the cover crop age will as increase root depth. Deep roots will allow you to pull more nutrients to the surface, help improve soil structure, and benefit microorganisms in the rhizosphere.

11/3/2014 9:47:23 PM

Central Minnesota

As Logan said, what are you trying to accomplish with it? Why did you plant it in the first place?

11/4/2014 11:35:50 AM

East Jordan, MI

I agree with Logan. We let ours grow until spring, then right about the time is starts to head mow it, till it and then replant.

11/4/2014 7:22:56 PM