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Santa Rosa, CA.

If your spring soil test shows you're low in let's say calcium, do any of you feed your cover crop calcium? If low in magnesium do you foliar feed your cover crop magnesium? Will it make any difference when your cover crop is tilled in or is it a waste of time and money?

2/10/2013 9:31:17 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Great question!


By the way,,,,,,,,,,, your cover looks like it pulled through the cold and is looking fantastic!

2/10/2013 9:47:08 PM

Germany

If your cover crop is growing nicely, then I would consider the foliar feeding a waste of time and money. Then better get the amendments into the soil when tilling in your cover crop. An exception could be things like limestone or dolomite (if you want to raise Ca or Ca and Mg, respectively, and pH at the same time. limestone and dolomite powder need some time to dissolve and to become available as soluble minerals and to neutralize soil acids. In that case it might be better to add these things before planting a cover crop. Broadcasting them on top of the cover crop doesn´t help very much, because CaCO3 or CaCO3/MgCO3 need to get in close contact with moist soil to do their job (i.e., you need to get them tilled in or something like that).

2/11/2013 1:20:11 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Good answers so far...There are certain cover crops that make some nutrients more available. Buckwheat is one of them. It has been a while since I have read up on them. The healthier the plant the more uptake. The easier it will break back down

2/11/2013 7:16:29 AM

President - GPC

http://www.soilminerals.com/information.htm

Check it out...your answerZ lie here.

2/11/2013 10:07:19 AM

Western NY

Yes. Not just limited to minerals, I would foliar with biologicals, especially just minutes before a rain, so it would mostly wash down into the soil.

2/11/2013 10:36:29 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Do you do this Andy and an example please ;)


Thanks!

2/11/2013 11:40:28 AM

Partlow,Va

I personally would not use any liquid to make a long term change in soil value. I guess it works for some growers, especially in very heavy soils, which hold nutrients longer.
For me its very cost effective.

Theres an easy way, if your soil is low in PH.Lime with Calcitic Lime.
In my area(Virginia) there are two types of limestone:

Magnesium based....I think about 14% mg (not sure off the top of my head)All stores carry this type. Most people have no idea there is another type of lime.

It is Calcitic Lime and is harder to find here.I,ve been using it since 2000. It costs 15% more but on my place the soil is H to VH in mag. TOO MUCH MG is a BAD thing for sure(yellow tips,burnt look,etc).Better low than high. The more i tried to build the soil up, the worse my yard/garden performed.

I have learned on BPumpkin that the AGs love Calcium....I'm proof that even a blind hog finds an acorn...lol
FYI
In 2000 my soil test was PH 5.2(Mg 230(vh),Cal 570)
In 2013 PH 6.8 (Mg 160(mhigh),Cal 1410)
The lime change did the trick!

2/11/2013 8:41:45 PM

Partlow,Va

I meant not cost effective....sorry

2/11/2013 8:43:08 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Andy?

2/11/2013 8:54:19 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Chris, I think Andy is talking about Companion, Actinovate, etc. My cover crop looks great and I haven't taken a spring soil test yet. I was just curious what others thought. I have been told that if you test low in copper you can raise it by spraying a copper- based fungicide on your cover crop before tilling in it.

2/11/2013 10:26:37 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Thanks PatchMaster!

2/11/2013 10:54:19 PM

Petaluma,CA

Russ, what are you using for your cover crop? I have fava beans growing and they are sure loving this warm weather.
Almost 4ft. tall

2/12/2013 12:58:13 AM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Kyle it's a mix of beans and vetch called Green Manure Mix. I bought it at Harmony Farm Supply in Sebastopol. It sure feels like Spring here doesn't it?

2/12/2013 9:04:49 AM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Thanks for the link Wiz.

2/12/2013 9:55:52 AM

Petaluma,CA

I know that place all too well Russ. I can’t seem to get out of there without spending a small fortune!

2/12/2013 8:58:01 PM

Colorado

Russ,what in your cover crops has all those tendrills-Peas?.looks mighty healthy.I would add amendments when tilling under.biologicals sooner.

2/14/2013 1:10:27 PM