From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Woodward, Oklahoma

How many of you till in your cover crop as your plant grows? What is best till it in and plant. Or till as you grow?

3/28/2017 12:33:58 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I'll be doing a 1000 sq ft at a time and adding nutrients ahead of the plant this year for the first time.

We'll see.

3/28/2017 1:26:40 PM

Utah

I vote for - till it in and plant.

3/28/2017 3:50:25 PM

Rhode Island

baker
ron and i for several years now (if we do have a cover crop thats over wintered?) --- we till and amend an area about ten ft longer/wider than greenhouses will fit.
then, just before removing the greenhouses, we amend and till the rest of each plants growing area.

(by using this method you will need to mow the cover crop several times while plants are in the greenhouses to keep everything from getting to thick.but the benefit is effect from the nutrients you put down at this later date --- will last longer
pap

3/28/2017 11:10:23 PM

Woodward, Oklahoma

Thanks Pop it's winter and Rons Mighty Mustard I tilled a six by six in each plot yesterday, I will go a little bigger. Wanted to give it 3 weeks to a month to set in.

3/29/2017 12:20:44 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

What's the goal?
1.Soil maximum disease control?.....mighty mustard.. tilled, 2-3 weeks ahead of time, wetted, covered for a week or so, amend/option:inoculate w/ beneficials/compost, till again..... mustard will likely suppress/eliminate most soil life (bad & good)
2.Soil maximum PGPR?....(use an inoculated cover crop, use organic composted nutrient sources) try winter rye/similar which can develop a symbiotic relations with the PGPRs, till before root zone of your plant reaches the untilled area......this can also reduce disease occurrences, increase available nutrients, help in moisture retention, and increase available growth hormones

3/29/2017 2:23:45 PM

Woodward, Oklahoma

So is it bad to grow the mustard with other crops? One and 2 are the goal. Just got the wheat given to me from the county conservative so I gave it a try fist year trying cover crops. This is why I ask. I want to try clove next year or rye.

3/29/2017 5:46:45 PM

Deer Park WA

pap, you fellas tilling by hand then or using a small tractor or both? We tried tilling ahead of the plants but made a mess with the drip tape and overhead spinkler lay out not to mention power cords,walking boards etc. Were not lazy but timing to set everyting up before the plants run seems to favor a deep cover crop till and then build like hell befor the real work sets in. Of course you folks got us by almost 1000#!

3/30/2017 1:01:38 AM

Brockton, Massachusetts

I firmly believe in till as you grow. It gives a nice landing spot for the root nodules to enter the soil. also your Knocking down the the roots as you go. I agree you can also amend the soil alot easier.

4/6/2017 2:22:08 PM

Brockton, Massachusetts

That is knocking down the weeds alot easier not roots.

4/6/2017 2:24:21 PM