>Dear Allan, >Why not just mow the rye over with a mower and spray with Barrel Compost and >then turn in by spade as a green manure, roots and all. Saves a lot of >effort and still aids the soil. >Then make a proper compost heap, with your hay and green matter and manure, >for later use, and use your last lot of compost turned in with this lot as >well on the raised beds. >Cheryl
Cheryl - Thanks for the suggestions. I'm working with acres here, often by myself. I'm going from covered soil to raised bed that I transplant into almost immediately, hence the raking off of the heavy organic matter, which, incidentally, extension agents in these parts do not feel contribute substantially to organic matter if turned in (roots, which remain in my beds being the greatest contributers and of mass equal to the tops). I do BC the beds right after spading-lifting-tilling. If I had money-time, I'd be hitting all the beds with Pfeiffer Field Spray, also. Please let me know if I've misunderstood what you are saying. It is not my experience that I can get right into the beds if I plow down 'full grown' rye, even with BC -Allan
