Improving Soil with a Cover Crop (VIDEO)

29 Apr '07 3:56 pm

Here's a video that demonstrates how to improve your soil by using a cover crop. It applies to organic gardening (shown for organic flowers).

Hosted by Marc Kessler of California Organic Flowers.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zr8XA0RuC_E

Apparently, this is the 1st of a series of instructional videos to appear on his website. Cool

30 Apr '07 7:36 am

Haven't checked out that link yet but I have found the idea of cover crops to be of huge benefit. I have only planted them in the vegetable garden so far.

The crops I use are mustard and lupin, these both have wonderful flowers to attract/feed insects and bees over winter and into early spring.

Another bonus is that no weeds are able to germinate in what would normally be the bare areas left fallow during the cold months.
Once dug in the crops break down quickly and become great compost ready to plant into when the first seedlings in spring are ready Very Happy

Marvelous practice to add to the growing year Wink

30 Apr '07 7:47 am

Smiley planted mustard in the vege patch in the weekend -always looks nice and tidy and benefits the soil .
Dixie

30 Apr '07 9:16 am

I've never done this, but I've always meant to. Dixie, and Pumpkin, is is too late for a random vegetable garden in NZ to be treated this way?

30 Apr '07 12:11 pm

It is the perfect time to plant a winter crop ;as I mentioned,ours has just gone in .I have always wondered if you can actually eat the stuff -mustard -
In the pic.the back of the veg garden is against a retaining wall -you can only see the top half of our garden shed
Dixie

1 May '07 7:06 am

I agree with Dixie, throw in some seeds moosey, lots of them, they are the sort of seeds which I never think 'when is the right time'. If it's right, they will grow Wink

and they are cheep as chips!

Have never thought about eating it Dixie ...

Heres a pix of both mustard and lupin in flower. Great for the insects Wink

5 May '07 8:25 am

Will do. Mustard? or Lupin? Lupin fixes nitrogen, and my vege garden needs a bit of urgent fixing!

5 May '07 5:15 pm

G'wan... live dangerously, do both Wink

Improving Soil with a Cover Crop (VIDEO)

Improving Soil with a Cover Crop (VIDEO)

cover crop

Go for it