From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ontario, Canada.

Was reading Matt D's diary this morning RE: entry about sowing grass seed under vines... Thought about using annual ryegrass, sown ahead of vine growth. Annual ryegrass colonizes myco it is grown with all kinds of crops to keep down weeds and provides early coverage, shade for some crops and green fertilizer when returned to the soil. Added benefit is the AGP's tendrils will firmly anchor to it. Thoughts on companion growing?

8/21/2017 6:53:54 AM

Bethlehem CT

I like the idea.

8/21/2017 7:08:48 AM

Germany

Did something like that in 2014, used white clover as companion plant. The idea seemed to be great, a small plant which reduces weed growth and which supports the soil and AG plant in some ways (adds nitrogen to the soil, the tendrils can find some grip). Thereafter I found out that white clover may carry mosaic virus (without showing any signs of the disease). Hence, when "weeding" some of the white clover (where it got too tall) and pruning vines, tertiaries, flowers etc., there´s high risk of mosaic virus infection.

8/21/2017 7:29:47 AM

Germany

That said, for any potential companion plant one should first of all find out if this plant might be host for one or more potential diseases which could be a problem with AGs. In case of rye grass I recall having read something about fusarium, which may infect the roots of this grass very easily. However, I´m not sure if this particular variety of fusarium would be one of the very problematic ones in the AG world. Also, it depends on whether the rye grass roots keep the fusarium busy (and happy) and thus lower the risk of infection of the AG plant or if they support the growth of fusarium and thus make it a bigger risk for the AG plant to get infected. Maybe someone else has experience with this and can give some further info.

8/21/2017 7:34:59 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Interesting thanks for the comments Pumpking. Companion planting using pre-inoculated sacrificial AGP plants and myco was addressed by Dr. Linderman at Niagara Falls. The thinking was to have an already established fungal network in place ahead of the main plants vine and root growth. Disease was also a concern at the time. However co-inoculated lawn grasses seam to co-exist very well with vine crops.... has my wheels spinning...

8/21/2017 8:27:57 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I'm doing this right now for field pkns. I pulled my AG plant, and threw rye gras down all over that area and where the field pkns are still growing. I'm doing quantity for the fields kins letting terts and secondaries grow out into the now 6" long rye and they seem to like it. Rooting fast, little bit more shaded and less watering. But what do you do when the rye gets too long if do it earlier in the season? By the time I need to mow it, it'll be late September and I'll be pulling the field pkn plants regardless.

8/21/2017 8:29:37 AM

Ontario, Canada.

So, a few things come to mind. Firstly the plant could naturally anchor itself which allows it to sense safety... Second, root growth pace is quicker as the nodes are shaded.... Third, roots have hyphal network prebuilt as a result they may become more stratified and flush with adventitious fiber.... Fourth less grower contact of the plant helps vines to grow faster....

8/21/2017 8:47:56 AM

Germany

That´s why I did the white clover thing (rather than a grass), because it was a plant which won´t reach the height of the AG leaves and still allows for alot of ventilation under the canopy. Grasses which won´t grow taller than 2 ft (in the shade, where they are actually trying to grow tall) should be fine as well. Sowing and mowing ahead of the vines should be ok, as soon as the area is covered and shaded by th AG canopy the growth of the companion plants should slow down a bit (as long as the AG leaves are healthy and don´t let too much sunlight reach the soil).
Last year I used a hay mulch instead of companion planting (see my 2016 diary). Of course, no additional benefits from myco, but it also reduced weed growth and offered some grip for the tendrils. For those who prefer to bury the vines, you can still cover the leave nodes with soil while the vines are running across the mulch or across the lawn of companion plants. For covering the leaf nodes it might be important to use a soil which is free of weed seeds.

8/21/2017 8:52:32 AM

Colorado

Downside might be nutrient competition,lower soil temps and the cover crop sending out don't grow here substances(theres a term for that)-have to try it and see how the ag plant performs.

8/21/2017 1:17:45 PM

stoughton WI

That may be a good idea, if only done for a short period. But a lot of growers including myself. Over crowd these plants as it is.if done for longer periods, soil will stay wetter for longer periods which may promote disease, it will really promote the growth of p.m. on the lower canopy.

8/21/2017 2:52:14 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I usually have enough weeds for without worrying about a companion crop

8/21/2017 4:33:43 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Rick, growth of p.m. on the lower canopy is a real concern thanks for your input. I would cover the vines after they achieve anchorage. So past vine growth season from Mid-July until fall the grass would be gone. This could help to reduce & control PM from vectoring in off the grass.

8/22/2017 9:17:19 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Joe > Maybe the term is Exudtes.

8/22/2017 9:19:43 AM