Cover Crop

[Natalie]

I planted WAY too much lettuce this year, and now that lettuce season is almost over I am going to have a very large area of empty garden. I have heard of using clover as a cover crop to keep weeds out while I'm not growing anything. The weeds get pretty raucous out there as the garden is next to a hay field. Anyone ever done something like this or have other ideas?

 

[Greenthumb18]

I planted barley as a cover crop this past spring and i just made a little hay out of it, i'm thinking for next year to plant more and different kinds of cover crops.
You could plant a quick maturing vegetable instead of the covercrop in that large garden space.

 

[Natalie]

I'd have to look into what else I could plant. I'm in WI so the growing season is pretty short, and we're pretty well into it already. Anyone else have an idea what I could plant in July that would be productive?

 

[beavis]

Radishes?

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi there!

I think Clover is a great idea, especially if you also keep chickens (as I do). I tend to grow red clover as my chickens prefer it.

It's good for the soil, looks good, keeps the weeds down & feeds the chickens something they enjoy & which is very good for them. It is also easy to turn into the soil just before you want to sow or transplant in the area.

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[HiDelight]

I am going to try buckwheat if I can find some ..do you think if I planted whole buckwheat from the healthfood store it would grow?

I dont know what it should look like this will be my first time

I have eaten groats but not sure if they are processed or not

 

[me&thegals]

Hi--I'm in WI, too. I'm doing second plantings of a ton of things for fall that you could use to keep weeds out--carrots, beets, green beans, summer squash, basil, lettuce, spinach, etc. Of course, the greens would need pretty consistent water to germinate and keep from frying.

Otherwise, rye has been working great as a cover crop for me in those areas I have open between plantings. Not sure how it will die for next year, but time will tell