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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Sustainable Production of Fresh-Market Tomatoes and O

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "David Inglis" <mhcsa@verizon.net>
  • To: "'Healthy soil and sustainable growing'" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Sustainable Production of Fresh-Market Tomatoes and O
  • Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 07:43:03 -0400


> -----Original Message-----
>
>
> David, what kind of crops can't be planted in winter killed residue?
And
> what kind of residue? It seems to me that less mulch/residue cover
would be
> needed if cultivation didn't bring up weed seeds to germinate.
>
> paul tradingpost@lobo.net

I should be more specific. Of course any crop could be planted into
winter killed residue but because it has been on the surface all winter
already the mulch breaks down quickly. Because it breaks down it does
not provide the weed suppressing effect long enough to get the cash crop
going especially if it is a full season crop like Leeks or Parsnip. The
winter kill covers we use in this area are Spring Oats/soy/buckwheat/pea
etc planted early to mid August. It is true that we have not done this
on 'perennial' no till ground but following a break year of rye/vetch
following the previous 'tilled' crop. In other words we have a one year
on, one year off rotation. It may well be the case that in a perennial
system less mulch would be enough as you say. I would like to hear from
people that make this work consistently on a commercial scale.
Be well.
David






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