Posts Tagged ‘beneficial’

Year Slowing Down

It is undeniable now, with temperatures in the mid 70s to mid 80s, summer weather is over.  No more upper 90s nor 100+ degree days.  I like this.  I feel like I can work easily in this weather.  Yesterday it was cloudy all day long, which made for a beautiful day and kept me energized.

In places where I already have the t-tape and no more cash crop action, I am putting in a winter cover crop.  Vetch and Rye are my choices.  Vetch because it fixes its own nitrogen and its flowers are nectaries for beneficial insects; Rye because its root mass is extensive and keeps nematodes in check.

The cover crop is going in slowly right now, but by mid/end October it should be completely in here.  In cooler spots, it should go in sooner - by the time the rains are showing up, or mid-September abouts if you’ve got the irrigation and it cools down.

Covering the field with these great crops is more than essential in my eyes.  It is as important as any cash crop would be, because it adds to the soil health; whereas a winter without cover would severely degrade the soil at Wildgrace Farm.

Andrew

Wet Stuff