Winter Rye Cover Crop North Georgia

[Buty]

Is it too late to plant a cover crop for a spring/summer vegetable garden in north Ga.?

 

[Panik]

I wish I knew. :confused3: I just tossed out some winter rye/clover mix last night on a couple of areas on the edge of my property that I'm looking to cover. Hoping the rains expected over Halloween might kick start things.

 

[DJ54]

I'd say you have plenty of time. It will be up within a week. Cold doesn't seem to hurt Rye like wheat or oats. I just sowed oats & buckwheat last week myself, and I'm way north of you. But I'm hoping the oats get to 3" - 4" before the cold kills it off. Should retain the nutrients, but yet be mostly broken down come spring.

 

[ruralruss]

We were a little late this year but our beds have rye about 12 inches high. We also mix in winter peas for the nitrogen. They get killed pretty easily with freeze like we had last week. Our rye is fine but I don't know about the peas, I am only a weekend warrior.

 

[Buty]

Thanks for the replies guys. I decided I'm just going to go for it. I don't plan to plant too early in the spring since I'll be planting warm weather vegetables so I'm sure they'll be something there to till in.

 

[jeff9366]

You will be fine planting Winter Rye until three weeks before your first frost, assuming the soil is moist when you sow, or it rains immediately after.

 

[Buty]

You will be fine planting Winter Rye until three weeks before your first frost, assuming the soil is moist when you sow, or it rains immediately after.

I have the seedbed ready and I will be planting today. There's 100% chance of rain tonight so I should be good. Worse comes to worse, I will water it and hope for the best.

 

[muddstopper]

Most folks will plant a winter rye or other grain type of rye. I usually plant a rye grass instead. I like to have the ryegrass planted before the end of Oct, but I am running late this year. I find the grass rye will grow thicker roots, almost like a sod. I believe the roots are where all the carbon is stored and one of the most lacking nutrients in most soils. JMO. Anyways, I will overplant my garden spots with the ryegrass, let it get knee high, and then move my chicken tractors over the spot. The chickens eat the ryegrass and poop it back out onto the garden, they als oeat all the stray weed seeds which makes for a almost weed free garden the next season. When it comes time to plant, I turn the ryegrass under, till and then plant. Any stray ryegrass seeds that comeup in the garden usually turns brown and dies around the end of May so it really isnt a problem to deal with when its time to harvest

 

[Buty]

Most folks will plant a winter rye or other grain type of rye. I usually plant a rye grass instead. I like to have the ryegrass planted before the end of Oct, but I am running late this year. I find the grass rye will grow thicker roots, almost like a sod. I believe the roots are where all the carbon is stored and one of the most lacking nutrients in most soils. JMO. Anyways, I will overplant my garden spots with the ryegrass, let it get knee high, and then move my chicken tractors over the spot. The chickens eat the ryegrass and poop it back out onto the garden, they als oeat all the stray weed seeds which makes for a almost weed free garden the next season. When it comes time to plant, I turn the ryegrass under, till and then plant. Any stray ryegrass seeds that comeup in the garden usually turns brown and dies around the end of May so it really isnt a problem to deal with when its time to harvest

What a great idea about the chickens. I read that before but sort of forgot about it. Now would be a great time to add some chickens to my mix.

 

[MacLawn]

Most folks will plant a winter rye or other grain type of rye. I usually plant a rye grass instead. I like to have the ryegrass planted before the end of Oct, but I am running late this year. I find the grass rye will grow thicker roots, almost like a sod. I believe the roots are where all the carbon is stored and one of the most lacking nutrients in most soils. JMO. Anyways, I will overplant my garden spots with the ryegrass, let it get knee high, and then move my chicken tractors over the spot. The chickens eat the ryegrass and poop it back out onto the garden, they als oeat all the stray weed seeds which makes for a almost weed free garden the next season. When it comes time to plant, I turn the ryegrass under, till and then plant. Any stray ryegrass seeds that comeup in the garden usually turns brown and dies around the end of May so it really isnt a problem to deal with when its time to harvest

That's the way to do it, mud! Great idea!

I've planted rye grass very late, and it still did good.