Cover crops! What is best, How to Plant, When to plant

Рет қаралды 101,190

7 жыл бұрын

In this episode we cover everything there is to cover about cover crops! Which ones are best, when to plant, how to plant, do they need fertilizer, what do you do with them once they are growing, can they overwinter, and so much more!
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Пікірлер: 162

@elizabethboegel5965 7 жыл бұрын

Crimson clover is actually a very good forage for honeybees (I'm a beekeeper and I use CC for cover crops in winter). And native bees like all clovers, and since native bees are in decline, any clover would be beneficial. Being in California, my cover crops are rarely winter-killed. I cut them down just before they go to seed (the timing is pretty critical), leaving the roots intact to root, and leave the plants as a mulch on top of the soil, therefore leaving the soil intact (no disturbance). Then I just move the residue aside to plant my spring plants. Also, I mostly grow my cover crops WHILE I'm growing winter crops, so between other crops that I started first and let them get a foothold. A low-growing cover like clover does well between garlic, onions, shallots, and brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower. Living Web Farms has a pretty nice series on the benefits of cover crops and soil science, which I found very educational.

@spoolsandbobbins 4 жыл бұрын

Elizabeth Boegel thank you, so helpful! God bless!! From Nova Scotia

@fastandcool 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I was looking for an answer as to how to use cover crops with no till methods! Keep up the good work.

@badgoy8439 2 жыл бұрын

do you let some of them go to seed so you can sow it again the next year, or just buy new seeds?

@MatthewBlackwell1015 7 жыл бұрын

That package design is nice. It's not too complicated. Here's who provided this, here's what you get, and here's a picture. That white space stands out from the ultra colored stuff on the shelves and makes it easy to read. Clean, clear, and straightforward. Awesome.

@melissadavis2102 7 жыл бұрын

I didn't realize that you could plant them this late in the season! Thanks! Very helpful!

@mollysmith6055 7 жыл бұрын

We had our first frost about a month ago, I'll have to put a cover crop date on next year's calendar. Great information on this, thank you!

@sandy-rr1by 3 жыл бұрын

i put tiny seeds in a salt shaker with some sand. shake it up and sprinkle where i want it. sand lets me see better where the seeds probably went.

@magz0626 7 жыл бұрын

your videos are so helpful. i love how you clear up alot of misconceptions.

@maiagrodin 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the honey BEE-related detail with white clover. It's my first year with hives so sealed the deal on this cover-crop for me!

@ajn-je6ts 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome new packages for the seeds can't wait to order some

@NorthernMontanaHomestead Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the deer feed mix tip! I wanted to get a nice pasture going and this is exactly what I needed.

@MIgardener Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@dannyhughes4889 3 жыл бұрын

You 'covered' everything so well. Thanks.

@CaliKim29 7 жыл бұрын

I always learn so much here! Perfect timing, just needing to order some. Heading over to your store soon!

@PinkChucky15 7 жыл бұрын

That's great! And I love the design on those seed packets :-)

@TheRenexxxxxx 7 жыл бұрын

I love the new packaging!

@chipsammich2078 7 жыл бұрын

Really quick.. love when you say that your vids seem to be the only ones that can keep me locked in for 10+ minutes most vids I won't even click if it's 10+ minutes but yours i always seem to get through.. ADHD I guess lol

@annayoder8257 7 жыл бұрын

I really like the new packaging 👍

@mildsoup8978 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the Deer feed tip! Really appreciate it!

@tessasilberbauer6219 3 жыл бұрын

I'd be interested in whether your thoughts have changed, especially regarding warm season cc and the benefits of radishes planted *in conjunction with* legumes. Thank you for your videos. I've been learning such a lot!

@intotheblue222 3 жыл бұрын

Good information!

@yvonneperry6350 4 жыл бұрын

What is the method for turning them over before I plant my seeds or veggie starts for Spring?

@Junkinsally 2 жыл бұрын

Just use a spading fork or potato fork. Just lift it up and flip over exposing the roots. Cover the exposed roots with a few inches of fresh compost, then plant.

@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783 4 жыл бұрын

Just stared at my hand way to long.... Man God made us awesome, I'm literally a garden tool. I love it!

@JenniferMoleski 3 жыл бұрын

*DUDE!* I was just telling my daughter that if she stares at her hand for long enough she'll see how alien she is. I don't know any other way to say it. It's like, you _realize_ yourself.

@sebern2 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah!!! Clover!

@ChicagoCFH 7 жыл бұрын

Kale in the background looking good!

@Erik8896 7 жыл бұрын

I'm loving this weather, it's November and I could still wear shorts. It was like 76 here in Chicago yesterday,...and the flowers are still blooming!

@simonebourgeois9544 6 жыл бұрын

Another good cover crop is Buckwheat & bees love them

@HometownAnomaly 7 жыл бұрын

I dig this a lot! :)

@SansaStarkofWinterfell 7 жыл бұрын

Ooo I love the new packaging. Not too fluffy, all the information required. Luke, the Clover can it be planted at a different time of year so that it can be harvested to be made into syrups, salves & such? 🌾Merry meet 🌿

@seanie6512 7 жыл бұрын

great video Luke you always make it easy to understand. I tell my friends you are like the Jamie Oliver of gardening...

@MIgardener 7 жыл бұрын

Well thank you for that! What a compliment!

@seanie6512 7 жыл бұрын

+MIgardener | Simple Organic Gardening & Sustainable Living.. Your welcome Luke..

@TJLawJX 7 жыл бұрын

In Central FL, I'm breaking new ground in my suburban front yard for a 30'x50' and a 10'x25' garden plot. I've killed the grass with tarps and flame weeding and I've cover cropped using Buckwheat. PS: Our bees love it, 21 days to flower, day 25 the bees started tearing it up en force! Anyhow, moving forward, since we're basically all sand, I'll be adding Mushroom Compost from the nearby Monterey Mushroom farm and tilling everything in. Going forward, I will cover crop on rotation and will begin using no till methods to maintain the soil fertility.

@BumbleBeeJunction 7 жыл бұрын

Might be the giant crimson clover you were thinking of... LOL We use a very similar blend with an innoculant suited for both legumes and clover... Glad to see you are offering packaging for smaller plots / boxes... BEST OF LUCK on the launch party ! We will definitely be watching !

@MIgardener 7 жыл бұрын

Yay!! See you then!!

@veronicabe7902 6 жыл бұрын

Your kale is so good. a supper dynamic kale. I was so worry about clover's deep root, and others. thanks so much. y open my eyes. I should have grown mustard seeds. I have also selected some seed variaties, but when do y think y will have them. should i delete them, or how long do these wish lists last? thanks

@giggiwidit5638 4 жыл бұрын

Just placed a 1kg bag of White Clover on my 'watch list' to buy at the end of the month (when I finally have money again lol) THANKS LUKE ! =D

@donjuan7144 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@vonh.7077 7 жыл бұрын

I just put my cover crop seeds on the ground today.

@zepguwlthistle7924 3 жыл бұрын

I wish you would put the plant name at the top of the package instead of migardener to make it easier when looking thru the packets

@MrTarfu 7 жыл бұрын

my first impression of the new package is that I don't like it. I found the little plastic bags extremely convenient. I like being able to how much seed is left and being able to reseal it easily.

@tomfisher3117 Жыл бұрын

Hi , thanks for another great video. I'm faced with a bit of a dilemma. I planted a cover crop in my garden beds. Right now they are about 10" tall. After planting and germination, I found a source for leaves so I ordered 18 cubic feet of leaves for my 1100 sq. ft. garden. I have pretty good soil, originally hard clay, as I have taken care of it for years. So, here's my dilemma: Although I am composting a good portion of the leaves, I still have probably 12-15 cubic yards of shredded (once) leaves to deal with. I was thinking about putting the rest of my shredded leaves on my garden walks, letting the cover crop grow in my beds until, terminating it in the spring. Then I could rake shredded leaves onto my beds after I plant. My second option would be to terminate my cover crop right now and cover the beds with shredded leaves. Which option would you choose?

@628DirtRooster 7 жыл бұрын

Nice packaging!

@LorienDrechsler 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Luke, nice video. I was looking at cover crops to repair soil in my back yard that was covered by railroad ties (a 10'x10' platform for a hot tub). They were here when we bought the house and there was a layer of heavy plastic between them and the soil. Upon moving them, I found a few worms underneath. I'm hoping I don't have to remove the soil but wanted to ask you anyway. What would you recommend for this situation? Is a cover crop enough? Or, should I just dig out the soil and replace it?

@kasey4565 6 жыл бұрын

Great video, but I would have liked more detail on what to do with the cover crops in the spring. I’ve watched many videos with different views on the matter. Some chop and drop, other chop and till in. My soil is red clay and we have been working hard to get it good condition. What do you recommend? Also, when do I do this in the spring? I’m in upstate South Carolina. Many thanks!

@bobbun9630 3 жыл бұрын

Regarding those daikons... I'm starting a new plot, and I'm too late for planting the daikons this year (I'm starting the plot for some winter wheat, not really an economical choice but it will grow over the winter). I did notice when I was digging out a stump in the plot that there's very hard soil with poor drainage about a foot down, though. If I had time for daikons, that might be an application for them for a home gardener. The daikons don't fix nitrogen, as mentioned, but they are considered to be effective at scavenging it--meaning they minimize it being lost over the winter due to leaching. Of course, daikons are also edible where hairy vetch and white clover are not.

@dominiquegarrison8998 5 жыл бұрын

When will you have your cover crop mix available again?

@lindamast7258 3 жыл бұрын

Your advice, please. I am getting my garden ready to sew a cover crop of white dutch clover, but I also want to spray the ground with Neem. This year powdery mildew was the worst I've ever seen, and I want to try to prevent it for next year. Am I right that Neem will help? Which do I do first, the Neem? or the cover crop? Thanks! your videos are excellent!

@catfunksfabulousfinds Жыл бұрын

I have clay soil. It's getting better, I want a blend with dichon radish. They say if you let it rot in place it really helps break up clay soil.

@adamgonzales9641 7 жыл бұрын

so i might have missed this part about turning under/ dont let go to seed. so im asking for a bit of clarity. you turn under in the spring but here in northern california spring is from october to april lol. but really winter is very mild but question is doing cover crops multiple times say from october to april. would i be hurting the soil or over using seed? is there a right time turn under or anytime is the same as long as the plant has matured. thanks

@joshualawson7604 3 жыл бұрын

I haven't seen any videos where you till the cover crops in the spring and what that process looks like. Have you already done this?

@OSGCourtWatch 3 жыл бұрын

Great video with e MAJOR exception...u really don’t want to till your beds...leave the cut cover crop as “armor” on top of the soil. Most fungi live in the top couple inches of soil and any tillage will wreak havoc on it

@gailgouty4129 5 жыл бұрын

I plant brassicas in the fall garden. Do you just put both a cover crop and then plant your collards, kale right in the same bed with the cover crop? Also, it is spring for me now and I did not plant a cover crop, but I see what looks like common vetch and clover growing on the side of the road. Could I take a lawn mower and bag the clippings and use them the same way or like a mulch?

@stevederheim2114 4 жыл бұрын

I'm doing my best to do a no till garden with wood chips, how could I make this work with a no till method? Chop and drop?

@peterlegeh7266 7 жыл бұрын

What about using buckwheat? I notice you did not mention it, but I've read that it is also a great nitrogen adder.

@Christine-777 6 жыл бұрын

Peter Legeh Indeed! My understanding is that Buckwheat is best used in the chilly zones (Zones 5 and under?). Someone, please correct me or clarify, if I am wrong. :)

@ashley1400 3 жыл бұрын

Will mulching with grass clippings and autumn leaves protect the soil over the winter be as effective and protect the soil as well as cover crops?

@robandannetteful 6 жыл бұрын

If your legume cover crop is very thick, can it promote slugs the next spring?

@rockskipper5353 Жыл бұрын

So should I plant my wild flower mix and pollinator mixes in fall too? Or is spring good for planting those?

@phillipyorko6686 7 жыл бұрын

3-2-1 love your shirt :))

@BugsMr123 7 жыл бұрын

I need to know more! I notice you broadcasting seeds around your kale plant, which is cold-weather hardy. Do you seed around plants like this? Can you sow these crops while your regular crop is in its last stages, ie around peppers and tomatoes in mid September? (I am in Ontario, probably near you.) I like to rotate crops, and it'd be worth a video to give subscribers a realistic idea about how this could be squeezed in between and around existing plants and seasonal lulls in various beds.

@stephenluna7932 3 жыл бұрын

do you remove the mulch before planting and keep the mulch off?

@mikewright3029 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Question: Do you have to water cover-crops?

@hogue3666 4 жыл бұрын

So do we let these grow at all in the spring? Or just work them in when we can?

@punamchadha5791 3 жыл бұрын

Good information! Is grass also considered a cover crop?

@meganofasheville1 4 жыл бұрын

I’m practicing lasagna/hugelkultur/no till gardening. If I plant a cover crop how can i turn it into the beds without tilling?

@Bhogs619 3 жыл бұрын

I just purchased your cover crop mix. I tried looking for the one you mentioned in the video but there is only one cover crop mix in the selection. anyway, you mention that radish would not be a good cover crop but your mix have radish. so how do I remove that? appreciate the help.

@duncansgardengarage3473 4 жыл бұрын

What about comfrey? Does anyone use this as a cover crop?

@hollykoehler4677 4 жыл бұрын

Luke, what about buckwheat seeds? Is that only in spring?

@aperson1181 4 жыл бұрын

What about crimson clover, how does it compare to dutch ?

@TM-we6eg 2 жыл бұрын

What about when you live in an area where you don't plant only in summertime cause you deal with the heat of hades or a volcanic inferno lol.

@noreenanderson4761 3 жыл бұрын

do you need to use an innoculant on the clover?

@adamdavis785 Жыл бұрын

Can u plant late winter/early spring??

@Zeldabug24 7 жыл бұрын

I was thinking of trying cover crops but just piled wood chips all over my raised beds lol.

@stephaniepacheco5871 4 ай бұрын

I did not plant any cover crops, but have a patch in my front yard garden beds that will grow thistles that takeover whatever is planted there. What’s something I can plant this spring to help suppress the thistle patch until my other seedlings are ready to plant late May/early June?

@alaina110881 6 жыл бұрын

I am killing my non-existant small lawn which is all weeks and thinking of planting a cover crop until fescue can be planted in the fall. Would this be a good thing to do until the fescue can be planted?

@soutpilaar 2 жыл бұрын

What about creeping Thyme?

@kbetol78 7 жыл бұрын

here in Kansas farmers who plant entire fields of cover crops use what they call Winter Oats and Winter Wheat as a cover crop which they can still get a winter harvest from do a little more research.

@mimiashford5544 Жыл бұрын

What's the best determinate paste tomato and HOTTEST chile to grow in Middle TN? Those are the only two things I want to grow...

@deedaw9246 7 жыл бұрын

We live in Arizona, and not the nice northern cool part. We live in one of the hottest places. When and what type of cover crops would we use?

@chrisferrario1540 3 жыл бұрын

What about alfalfa or Black seed sunflower? I hear it has a deep tap root and it would help break up my clay soil? Yes?

@MrSwicky88 3 жыл бұрын

Will cover crops provide a winter nesting area for rodents? My garden is next to my house and I don’t want to encourage mice.

@jeffpohlman1387 3 жыл бұрын

Can these be used for Biofumigation

@2xpl361 5 жыл бұрын

Can I plant a cover crop over my garlic and planted onion set? Or would there be too much competition amongst them all? Looking forward to your response

@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783 4 жыл бұрын

Way forward.... Rofl and I wondered the same.

@ivymok6688 7 жыл бұрын

I did planted a cover crop in one of my raised beds. I broadcasted and lightly raked top of the soil to mix the seeds in. I didn't see you scratching the top of the soil at all. Did I do it wrong? I also mulched the bed thinly (zone 9b) just to protect from other weeds and rain. Will it be ok or should I remove the mulch and re-broadcast since the seeds were mixed in too deep? Thank you!

@mu99ins 5 жыл бұрын

After casting the seeds, raking re-arranges the seed unevenly and at various levels. This year, I experimented with casting the ground cover seed, and then lightly dusting with soil, then water. It seemed to work. I'm not a veteran gardener, but I've noticed when i used the raking method, the results are uneven.

@f3wbs 4 жыл бұрын

Can oats be used as a cover crop?

@nicolesgarden860 5 жыл бұрын

Do you have to rake in the seeds after scattering them on top of the soil? And should you water it too?

@MIgardener 5 жыл бұрын

Just cover with a tiny bit of soil and water them in.

@aperson1181 4 жыл бұрын

Dutch vs crimson clover, what is the difference ?

@Reub3 6 жыл бұрын

This is probably a dumb question buuuuuuuuut... Is crimson clover invasive or is it basically just like white clover?

@toothless3835 3 жыл бұрын

So I'm assuming MI is for michigan which means you're in zone 4 to 5 I think? Here in chicago, I think we're zone 4 because we're so close to the lake our weather is a mess and cold in the winter and Humid and hot in the summer

@telinstrong6327 7 жыл бұрын

you do not need to till the crops in you can just chop and drop the covercrops

@telinstrong6327 3 жыл бұрын

Open Mind Closed Fist I think the worms in the soil will till it in I don’t think you need to kill soil fungus by tilling it in yourself

@certified_boogeyman Жыл бұрын

Exactly why radishes (which he recommends against) are so beneficial No need to till

@prodigirl1 Жыл бұрын

Are you saying that I can just toss the cover crop seed on top of my grass and I don’t have to till the ground first? We just bought a house on 5 acres. Nothing was grown on if before except a few trees

@certified_boogeyman Жыл бұрын

@@prodigirl1 the grass needs to die... You can cover areas with cardboard and mulch on top and the grass will die, and you'll have some good soil underneath next season...tilling is one of the worst things you can do... But! When you first get some land if you want to make some rows or shape your land to catch/drain water in certain places there's nothing wrong with that. You will be destroying the fungus but as long as it's not something you're doing constantly like big agriculture you'll be fine. Set up your rows once and then go no-till

@prodigirl1 Жыл бұрын

@@certified_boogeyman thank you! I’m a new homesteader.

@drippyinfinities 4 жыл бұрын

Can anyone decipher what he's saying at 0:13? Really starts things off with a (completely incomprehensible) bang!

@sambennett9769 4 жыл бұрын

“Well hello everyone and welcome to another episode here on the MIgardener channel” lol

@jvin248 2 жыл бұрын

"...Even Dandelions" -- Dandelions are the first new food to kick start bee colonies in the spring. Save the bees. ... Supplies for big bags of cover crops look for 'food plot seed' at Tractor Supply and hunting stores.

@brandihagerty958 5 жыл бұрын

Are there any cover crops blends which can produce edible plants? For instance, if will the snow peas actually produce peas for the next year?

@Horridherrod 5 жыл бұрын

You might want to try fava beans depending on where you live. They will grow all winter and be ready to harvest in spring, then you can chop the plants (they are big and produce a lot of biomass!) and add to soil to break down.

@kecoleo5150 7 жыл бұрын

Would this still apply to someone living in Seattle, WA?

@anneandtimdonovan2783 3 жыл бұрын

Helpful info! Question: even 15 days before our first frost, I was still growing stuff. How can we plant cover crops if we are still getting tomatoes and kale? Do you just plant right around your existing plants and not worry about that part?

@chrisferrario1540 3 жыл бұрын

I know! I was wondering the same! Guessing plant around and go ahead an harvest the plants - green tomatoes come off and mature in brown paper bags?

@narekhart9862 2 жыл бұрын

So if you don't have cold winters you don't need cover crops?

@cfales13 7 жыл бұрын

Can you do the cover crops if you have already had a couple days of frost?

@MIgardener 7 жыл бұрын

you sure can!

@amyceritelli8406 7 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to throw clover around other crops? If so, which ones?

@gailgouty4129 5 жыл бұрын

I was wondering the same thing. Did you ever find the answer to your question?

@Asgardt13 6 жыл бұрын

What about lentils?

@theegeekmew6017 2 жыл бұрын

Hello, complete noobie here! How do you success with cover cropping, and the no till method? They both seem really important, and I am not sure how that works. Thank you!

@escapetherace1943 2 жыл бұрын

Just spread the seed over your soil and water it. cover crops don't even need to be buried. If you're concerned about birds maybe cover it, I didn't and mine grew very thick and well. Once it grows, I'd say 4-6 weeks before you want to plant, dig it up in patches and turn it upsidedown. You can break it up later, I'd suggest so so it dies better. It will die and break down by planting time. I was lazy and did it 3 weeks before planting and honestly it all broke down really well. It turns into straw and then compost EXTREMELY fast... like super fast. Digging through it after the end of my growing season, it was all 100 percent dirt again lol. Also don't worry if a few stray cover crop plants survive the process, they're not like a weed because they're good fixers, I let a few remain cause it can be a pain to get rid of them 100 percent. Overall though very easy, recommend doing it in a soil you can dig in easy, then cut it like you're cutting a grass patch and flip.

@eriatarka1983 3 жыл бұрын

Should I cover crop my grow bags?

@jeanhampson7557 4 жыл бұрын

I use mulch over all my garden beds. Does that mean I don't need a cover crop as the soil is kept warm through winter and the bottom layer of mulch breaks down adding nutrients to the soil. Or should I push aside the mulch to plant a cover crop?

@beaut9790 2 жыл бұрын

Could always do both! I think one of the benefits of cover crops is having living roots in the soil to help with mycelial networks

@acstamos 2 жыл бұрын

Deer feed mix from hunting supply

@MikoBennett 7 жыл бұрын

would it be worth it to use cover crops 4 veggies grown indoors /w soil

@MIgardener 7 жыл бұрын

Not really no. I wouldn't worry about it!

@VOTE4TAJ 7 жыл бұрын

I am sure they will go very fast. When are the new seed collection coming. Most of them are out of stock.

@MIgardener 7 жыл бұрын

We will be totally restocked November 4th :)

@VOTE4TAJ 7 жыл бұрын

MIgardener | Simple Organic Gardening & Sustainable Living thank you I am desperately looking for some of your favorite varieties and collections.

@jefflandsberg4251 4 жыл бұрын

@MIgardner .Thanks for the video. One question , instead of tilling the cover crop in, how about giving them a haircut and cover them with cardboard? your thoughts?

@navaskyy7764 4 жыл бұрын

That is a really good idea its actually a form of no till gardening. If you cant afford a proper paper mulch cardboard will work but i do believe there toxins created in the cardboard in the process of making it.