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September 7th, 2008
I can’t rave enough about hairy vetch. I need to get going ASAP and order seeds to plant for fall!
It’s a legume (adds nitrogen to the soil) and a good cover crop. In spring, you can do a variety of things with it: til it into the soil for a green manure, mow it and use as a good mulch, or do what I do: leave it.
It brings the ladybugs in like crazy (plus bees and other good creatures), it’s pretty as all get out, and it really keeps the weeds down. I’m going to plant it in every bare spot this fall, including on top of lasagna starts, and I expect to have few weeds in spring. In every spot I planted, hardly a weed at all.
Then I simply plant “into” the vetch, making a little spot for plants (and making sure they have enough room and sun), and that’s it. In mid summer, it dies back into a good mulch and continues the weed suppression.
You can get hairy vetch seeds at some seed stores, but Johnny’s has it, and they have it in small quantities. I think I’ll probably just get a pound. The seed store kind of laughed when I bought one pound, but I don’t farm hundreds of acres. I must be the only one buying it, because they haven’t had it in stock the last year or so.
Johnny’s also has the inoculant, which I’ve never used. I’m thinking I’ll try that this year. You’re supposed to use it to get the nitrogen going. So I think I’ll add some nitrogen back into the soil.
My other rave is kaolin clay, marketed for the home gardener as Surround WP. I bought five pounds last year (I think from Gardens Alive?) and only used it mid season this year. Next year, I’ll be using it from day one. It’s fun to spray, kind of cool looking when it dries, and it really stopped the flea beetles immediately.
But everything I’ve read about it seems to suggest using it early in the season to confuse and repel bad guys. My problem bugs are cucumber beetles, leafhoppers and squash vine borers. So that’s going to be my main bug warrior (besides my beneficials) for next year.
I have lots of big changes planned for 2009, including new, raised beds. I’ll be obsessing about it all winter long and spending too much time on the seed company websites.
Possibly Related PostsThis entry was posted on Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at 1:05 pm and is filed under Organic Gardening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hi Julia! Thanks for the info about the cover crops! I’ve been tossing around the idea of planting some this fall. I hope you’ll be posting pictures of it!