What is a good cover crop blend for tomatoes.

Farmer Matt · October 26, 2011

I planted oats last year, I want to try a mix, oats, hetch, fava beans.
Any other ideas'

Matt

dustdevil · October 26, 2011

Don't forget clover.

dice · October 28, 2011

You can probably grow most any winter cover crop in central California.

Here is a blend from Peaceful Valley:
http://www.groworganic.com/soil-builder-mix-raw-lb.html

Another from LA Hearne:
http://www.hearneseed.com/product-in...ted-pid85.html

Crimson Clover is kind of pricy, but it should do well in your climate
for a winter cover crop.

A guide from UCDavis with fairly wide coverage of cover crop species
used in California:
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/ccrop.exe

Hastings · January 13, 2012

What would be a good suggestion for zone 4b/5?

Structure · January 13, 2012

I'm using hairy vetch on the coast. I find that it starts really really slooow, but then picks up and grows like heck in April/May. Since that's the time I want to plan, I think I'll be trying something more cold tolerant (or at least different) next year.

dice · January 13, 2012

Here is a different perspective on killing Rye early, long before it has
flowered:
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/bjorkman...rly-spring.php

Look at the description of sub-clover in this document:
http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/f...ll/chart.shtml
I have not tried it, but according to the description you plant in late
summer, and in late spring it flowers, sets seed, and dies, no need
to mow it. Seeds will sprout again in late summer or fall. It can be
hardy to 0-15F over winter, depending on cultivar.

There are a *lot* of different subclover cultivars, with different growth
habits, dates of flowering and maturity, etc:
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin...E/show_crop_39

Here is Peaceful Valley's mix (apparently out of stock, but this will
give you some idea of cost/lb):
http://www.groworganic.com/subterran...coated-lb.html

jerryinfla · January 13, 2012

It's not a blend but I'm trying Dwarf Essex Rape as a winter cover crop. It's supposedly toxic to root knot nematodes too.

dice · January 14, 2012

Some resources on cover crop use in Nebraska:
http://www.nebsusag.org/resources/res_covercrops.htm

http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-far...ops/41/46/1092

http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-far...x?lc=46&plc=41

October 26, 2011	#1
Farmer Matt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tracy, California Posts: 63	What is a good cover crop blend for tomatoes. I planted oats last year, I want to try a mix, oats, hetch, fava beans. Any other ideas' Matt

October 28, 2011	#3
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	You can probably grow most any winter cover crop in central California. Here is a blend from Peaceful Valley: http://www.groworganic.com/soil-builder-mix-raw-lb.html Another from LA Hearne: http://www.hearneseed.com/product-in...ted-pid85.html Crimson Clover is kind of pricy, but it should do well in your climate for a winter cover crop. A guide from UCDavis with fairly wide coverage of cover crop species used in California: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/ccrop.exe __________________ -- alias

January 13, 2012	#4
Hastings Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 81	What would be a good suggestion for zone 4b/5? __________________ Shannon

January 13, 2012	#6
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Here is a different perspective on killing Rye early, long before it has flowered: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/bjorkman...rly-spring.php Look at the description of sub-clover in this document: http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/f...ll/chart.shtml I have not tried it, but according to the description you plant in late summer, and in late spring it flowers, sets seed, and dies, no need to mow it. Seeds will sprout again in late summer or fall. It can be hardy to 0-15F over winter, depending on cultivar. There are a lot of different subclover cultivars, with different growth habits, dates of flowering and maturity, etc: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin...E/show_crop_39 Here is Peaceful Valley's mix (apparently out of stock, but this will give you some idea of cost/lb): http://www.groworganic.com/subterran...coated-lb.html __________________ -- alias

January 13, 2012	#7
jerryinfla Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 377	It's not a blend but I'm trying Dwarf Essex Rape as a winter cover crop. It's supposedly toxic to root knot nematodes too. __________________ Jerry - You only get old if you're lucky.

October 26, 2011	#2
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Don't forget clover.

January 13, 2012	#5
Structure Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 99	I'm using hairy vetch on the coast. I find that it starts really really slooow, but then picks up and grows like heck in April/May. Since that's the time I want to plan, I think I'll be trying something more cold tolerant (or at least different) next year.

January 14, 2012	#8
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Some resources on cover crop use in Nebraska: http://www.nebsusag.org/resources/res_covercrops.htm http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-far...ops/41/46/1092 http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-far...x?lc=46&plc=41 __________________ -- alias

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