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Watering
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"Suzanne D." wrote: "Billy" wrote in message news:wildbilly-50861D.00114017062009@c-61- You know you could save a lot in amendments by planting "green manure" as a cover crop. Rye to condition the soil and legumes to pump nitrogen into it. I like buckwheat as a good quick hot weather crop. You can get in three or four plantings in a single season, and it gives lots of mulch when you cut it down. I believe SteveB is the one who lives near me in southern Utah (there are so many Steves on this NG it is hard to keep them straight), and if so, I can guarantee him that buckwheat grows well around here with virtually no care. I've got it growing in my tomato beds right now. I also like canola for breaking up hard clay soil, and I like my crimson clover (which is surprisingly growing even in this heat) to add nitrogen and attract beneficial insects with its bright flowers. I feel that if you can keep the ground covered with vegetation that will pull nutrients to the surface AND provide future mulch, there is no reason to spend loads of time and money on bagged amendments. Bulk seeds are cheap, and having the ground consistently covered with vegetation discourages weeds. I understand the desire to get the soil in good condition RIGHT NOW, but really, after just two years of using no-till practices, I've got a good 3-4 inch layer of rich black dirt in my beds, so it really doesn't take long at all to do it naturally. --S. In a nutshell, that's it. All that is needed is to just get out in front of your needs and prepare for their arrival. I haven't tried buckwheat, but that was recommended to me along with rye. I can't give rye all the credit for conditioning my soil but it did make a vast improvement. I still have some of my green manure coming up here and there, and I encourage it to keep growing. After I cut the rye and legumes, I cover with paper, and mulch over that with alfalfa. Then I water occasionally, and wait at least two weeks before I plant. It's not rocket science and it leaves the aeration provided by the worms intact, as well as the fungi that provide nutrients for the plants. -- - Billy "For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death." - Rachel Carson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1Zunx_goz4 http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/2...ra_hass_on_the |
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