Gil, How do you sow the oats through the previuos cover crop?
thanks, Daniel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gil Robertson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 8:11 PM Subject: Re: RoundUp/Cover crop > Hi! Per Garp/NH > > Over here we have winter rain, which is our main growing season, followed by > spring when most thing finish for harvest, with grapes coming in around > February. > > We start with a legume peas/ fava beans, hairy vetch etc, planted on the first > rains. A soon as it flowers, but before it sets seed, it is slashed and oats > or other grain sowed through it. Again, as soon as it flowers and is still at > the milky stage, slash it and just let it lay on top and there is your summer > mulch. Some run the slasher through a couple of times to cut it shorter. This > should supply all the N and C required. I like to spray the freshly slashed > material with the compost Preps. > > Gil > > COYOTEHILLFARM wrote: > > > Hi All > > > > What type of cover crop would you recommend as a companion planting for > > grapes ?? > > > > Thanks > > Per Garp/NH > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Gil Robertson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 10:34 PM > > Subject: Re: RoundUp > > > > > Hi! Peter, > > > If the cover crop is slowing vine growth, it suggests that there is a > > > Nitrogen shortage. The cut cover crop and any mulch is mostly carbon and > > > needs a specific proportion of nitrogen to break it down. It is > > > important to start with a legume with the right inoculant to help set > > > nitrogen from the air, into the soil, in a form the plant can use. The > > > break down of carbon, also uses large amounts of nitrogen, which may be > > > what has happened. When you get a "nitrogen credit" in the soil, it is > > > OK to have a non nitrogen fixing cover crop. > > > > > > The use of the Preps will help the whole process. I also use the > > > combined compost Preps, sprayed onto the freshly slashed cover crop, > > > which seems to help it break down. > > > > > > If you have the time and a good Whipper Snipper, using the line, not > > > blade, you can make a little guard on a long handle, which you can put > > > against the butt of the vine and slash right to the butt, at ground > > > level. I do not see properly managed cover crops as competing. They will > > > keep out weeds and should produce all the N and C your crop requires. > > > While they will use some water, if slashed fairly often, they also > > > reduce water loss from bare soil and the effect of heat on the root run. > > > In Oz with our mainly shallow soils, it is important to use all of it we > > > can. A sun dried inch or two is wasted country and it also kills feeder > > > roots. > > > > > > Gil > > > > > > J Peter Young wrote: > > > > > > > Gil, We had a marvelous green manure crop this spring which, when we > > > > couldn't get control of it in the vine row, completely shut down vine > > > > growth in early summer. It is a young vineyard and apparently very > > > > sensitive to competition. Once the green manure crop finally fell away > > > > natually, the more noxious north coast weeds began to appear because > > > > of our irrigation. In some areas we did sow a clover vine row cover > > > > crop, but it was just a competitive. It's sad that next door, my > > > > conventional farming neighbor who uses a pre-emergent over the winter > > > > and then regularly applied RoundUp through teh growing season had much > > > > better growth and vigor with less water and a lot less fertilizer. We > > > > had hoped to only try to keep the 18" around each vine clear, but that > > > > is turning out to be impractical and next season we are going for an > > > > 18" to 24" wide strip. The aisles will continue to have cover crop in > > > > them providing habitat. Our biggest concern this year is getting in to > > > > the vineyard at the right points in time over the winer to use the > > > > vinegar and the number of passes we'll have to make each season since > > > > vinegar has not effect on the roots. Peter > > > > > > >
