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Follansbee, Wv

Just thought I would toss out a bit of advice...

Most weigh-offs are now over. I can't help but wonder how many patches still have pumpkin plants lying on them. Due to the long growing season for AG's many northern growers are hard pressed to get a cover crop in the ground before the weather gets to cold. While some cover crops still have some time (like winter rye, buckwheat, auburn wheat and such), other legume type cover crops need 4-6 weeks to establish themselves. Southern growers have an advantage here, with much later frosts and milder winters.
With snow already falling in the Dakotas, and a cold front sweeping across the northeast, it may already be too late for legume type cover crops. It's still not to late for the other varieties though. Winter rye in particular is cold hardy if it gets the chance to establish before a hard freeze.
If it's already too late for a legume in your area, plant the winter rye, or other cold hardy variety as soon as possible.
Remember the three major reasons for planting a cover crop. First, erosion prevention. Second, the roots of the cover crop will help prevent winter compaction. Third, a living cover crop will help prevent many nutrients still left in the patch from leaching deep. While cover crops do help build OM, their contribution is very small in the short term. It can take years of cover crop usage to significantly improve soil OM, so the sooner you start, the better off you will be.
So, if you want to grow a cover crop this year and your pumpkin plants are still in the patch, get out there and get busy!

10/6/2005 8:00:29 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Buckwheat I have found has no cold tolerance. Once it gets below 40 degrees it dies. Very tender plant.

10/6/2005 11:11:50 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Thanks for the correction Shannon.

10/6/2005 12:21:11 PM

Puyallup, WA

I use winter rye and Austrian peas. It might grow to 8-10" by mid-late March when I disk it back into the soil.

10/13/2005 10:06:28 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Do the Austrian Peas hold up well through the winter Stan? Also, what is the recommended innocculant for nitrogen fixing?

10/14/2005 9:20:47 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I tried a cover crop last year. Don't remember exactly what
it was, but it was a "cold area mix". It didn't do a dang
thing. Waste of money, in my case. We're tool cold here.

10/14/2005 6:46:40 PM

Ohio

What temps will winter rye seeds germinate at?

10/22/2005 10:44:12 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

lowest temps are around 37 F - 41 F

10/24/2005 8:13:30 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Curious Nu-b here, wondering if winter cover crop seeds need to germinate in the fall or if they will...over winter, winter over and germinate in the spring...Is there a difference in rye,(etc) and legumes? I sort of understand that a innoculant is needed for the legumes (I think) but didnt realize there was a particular rate of innoculant needed. Somebody HELP ME HERE!!!! LOL Peace Wayne
ps Boy am I glad that I got all winter to figure this out.

10/24/2005 8:54:12 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Wayne
Late planted fall rye and wheat will germinate and grow if given a warm spell. Some seeds may germinate later but won't produce any top growth untill spring. Legumes generally are not a good choice for late fall seeding as they will winter kill badly if they don't have enough establishment time. Legumes such as red clover need to be sewn in mid to late August to over winter. Otherwise clovers can be sewn in February on the frost. This is an excellent way of establishing them, however they won't really give you the desired effect of a "cover" crop. For legumes sewn as cover crops, innoculants are not really necessary as the crop is usually tilled under in the spring. As well, most soils have natural enoculeum for clovers. If you really think you want innoculated seed, you can purchase pre-ennculated seed from most seed supliers.
My choice would be the Rye. Keep in mind, cover cropshelp hold the moisture in the spring and my slow the warming process. On my clay soils a cover crop is a bad idea.

10/24/2005 10:10:24 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Stan, do you think it's too late to start some winter rye over here in Sequim?

10/30/2005 7:36:32 PM