Discussion forum for environmentally-friendly alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
Posts: 818
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I put in a winter cover crop every fall in my 12'x12' garden.Winter rye, yellow clover,alfalfa and hairy vetch.I want to try a living mulch of white clover between my rows of tomatoes and peppers.I then will turn it under in the fall and put in my winter crop.I'm trying to go chemical free and not use any fertilizers.Here in North East Ohio we have hot and humid summers so I think it will help the soil.I also have a problem with a stray cat getting into the garden.Last year I used a cloth in the garden but did not like the mold that I saw when I pulled it up in the fall.It was only a small bit of mold,but I don't want to use that again.Hoping the white clover will fill the bare ground in and I can keep that stray cat out of my garden.I might try lavender around the outer edges.Any ideas would be great.Thanks.
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#2 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
Posts: 818
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I guess it could stay and I could add my wintercrop mix,I have always turned the soil after I pulled the plants.I don't have a tiller,so I just turn it over by hand.But that's why I would joined this forum to see what others do.I have never tried a living mulch.I just found ideas when researching covercrops and mulches.
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,413
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You don't need to pull the plants, let it grow in thick, mow it high and rake it up to spread in other parts of the garden. Before long you will have choice dark soil under your cover crop.
Not sure if it will repel the stray cat though. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
Posts: 818
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I'm hoping if it's very thick like my wintercrop is right now the cat can't dig so it will go somewhere else.
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#6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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I also have several videos listed on my Red Baron Project Hope that is a start for giving you some ideas.
__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; April 5, 2014 at 02:10 AM. |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
Posts: 818
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Thanks for the video.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
Posts: 818
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I was looking around the web about no till gardens and think I'll do that this year.We have had so much rain and snow this past winter that the ground here in North East Ohio is in flood stages all around.I think I'll mow it down and plant and use a mulch of straw or alfalfa straw that I might get free from someone at work.Then in the fall mow and plant another winter cover crop.Trying to do any work with the ground this wet can't be a good thing.
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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![]() Quote:
__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio
Posts: 818
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Thanks,I will.
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: z5
Posts: 146
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yeah, its a swamp for sure, even the high rocky areas are slushy and it is supposed to rain again for 2 days. dont know when i will be able to get my peas in.
i am planning to do a white clover cover crop between rows this year as well. i usually just let ground ivy and a little grass grow in between. I always get a lot of rain here. ( 10-15 miles south is always dry, grrrr.) anyway i cant mulch too heavily and definitely cant use newspaper or cardboard. it just rains too much and with heavy mulch or cardboard under mulch, the soil will never dry out and the plants will die. so consider that if your area gets lots of rain. best of luck Last edited by strax; April 6, 2014 at 09:16 PM. |
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