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Location

Message

Date Posted

Knopp, Germany

i know this is early, but the seeds just arrived (i'm thinking of next year already) and i started to have all these questions.....

i saw in Ken's diary that he used winter rye as a cover crop. when should i plant? anything i should do to the patch before i plant? in the spring, do i simply till the crop under? what exactly is the advantage? thank you all...owen

7/23/2002 10:06:32 AM

Western Pa.

Rye is a "green manure", and when tilled under provides added organic matter and nutrients, like nitrogen.(Also helps to cut down on weeds!) I pull all old plants/weeds at the end of the season, rototill under as many leaves as I can get a hold of, Then broadcast the rye and rake it in , with a light covering of soil. It will stay green all winter. Till it under 2-3 weeks before planting, so it has a chance to break down. If it gets "too tall" in the spring, you may want to mow it before working it in.

7/23/2002 10:52:23 AM

Topsfield, Ma.

Another advantage the rye provides is stabilizing the soil from erosion through its vast root structure...learned from a local commercial pumpkin grower.

7/23/2002 8:47:58 PM

Knopp, Germany

thanks for the answers guys....owen

7/24/2002 1:07:59 AM

Pumpkintown, SC

Another "green manure" that I prefer and use is Austrian Winter Peas. Same planting times and benefits as Winter Rye but without the need of mowing before it's worked into the soil. It may also be a little harder to come by.

7/24/2002 2:22:37 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

One quick question "winter rye" is a generic term for any rye planted in winter or a specific type needed, I bought a bag that just sez perrenial rye good or no! thanks guys still learning!

7/24/2002 7:30:25 AM

Knopp, Germany

alexsdad, i don't know the real difference, but, the seeds i ordered are labeled Winter Rye....owen

7/24/2002 8:38:45 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Alexsdad perenial rye is a lawn grass. you will be fighting it for years if you plant it. Winter rye is a cereal, often planted with vetch, or clover. If you have a hard time finding it contact a landscaper.

7/24/2002 11:50:21 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

gardens alive sells it if need be, i bye it at the local farm in the fall and mix it with hairy vetch, both can be bought from gardens alive.

http://www.gardensalive.com/index.asp?bhcd2=1027542490

Glenn Peters

7/24/2002 1:23:15 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Thanks guys thought something was wrong...Yeah this is definitely lawn grass. I can hear the neighbors now....what you grow vines all summer and hairy vetch in the winter! will do thanks again.

7/24/2002 3:19:42 PM