Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - [Market-farming] does rapeseed winterkill?

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: bob111higgins AT comcast.net
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] does rapeseed winterkill?
  • Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 17:33:20 +0000

Hi All:

I want to use cover crops that will winter kill so that I don't have a lot of heavy tilling to do in the spring, having only a small tiller and no tractor. (central NJ, zone 6) Looking to break up heavy clay, provide winter cover and organic matter, and possibly end up with some cover I can plant early crops into.

I have used buckwheat before for the clay and for smothering weeds, but it also seems too wispy to help much with winter cover and spring mulch. 

Would like to also use oats and rapeseed. Does rapeseed winterkill? I think I remember Elliot Coleman recommending this as a good source of organic matter that would die off in cold weather -- but he lives in Maine. If yes, is there a specific variety I should plant -- since there are winter crops grown in the midwest for canola oil production?

Thanks for any help -- I am learning tons from this list.

Bob Higgins, Red Brick Farm, Hopewell, NJ




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page