cover crops - gone to seed.. now what?

[psuedofarmer]

part of the process of establishing a certified organic farm required the planting of cover crops on fields that were restored (read that: removed trees, stumps, washing machines, tires, and the occasional Ford axle).

last fall (and early spring) i planted a few acres of rye and clover on a number of these fields. the rye grew like mad - and the clover was well established.

the rye went to seed - but the clover didn't crowd out all the weeds/grasses. if i mow all the fields, can i expect the clover and rye to come back? i expect that both will come back with a vengence (which is OK)..

these fields will be used primarily for forage, so it's probably not critical if the rye or clover returns..

pf

 

[rambler]

Clover slows down when it either goes to seed or gets mowed, but it will continue to grow & come back next year. If you let it go to seed some small % of the seed will regrow as well.

The rye died when it went to seed. Some of the seeds, if they get covered with a bit of dirt or multch, will regorw & be there this fall/ next summer. Depends on how much of that seed gets covered with a bit of dirt or multch, & how much rain you got to keep it soaked until it rooted....

Depending on conditions, I would expect more clover, less rye next year.

--->Paul

 

[psuedofarmer]

thx for the info - looks like i'll have mowing to add to my long list of things this fall.

pf

 

[cqaigy]

I believe most clovers will come back but at least in our climate, crimson clover not red clover, is an anual. It will somewhat reseed but it's typically used as green manure where you don't want it to take over. We use buckwheat for the same purpose.

Some of the Organic farms in this area have been experimenting on using native plants that can be used as forage and over seeding to keep the density up and crowd out the plants that they are trying to get rid of.

My brother in law raises animals and he drags a blanket harrow around then over seeds with pasture mix every couple years.