Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] asparagus - cereal rye

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: gofish54 AT centurytel.net, "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] asparagus - cereal rye
  • Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:14:06 -0500 (CDT)

We have done work on rye as a cover crop for pumpkins. We plant it around the
first of October at 90#/acre. We create planting strips as early as possible
or set up the rye planting in strips. We roll down the rye when it gets to
the tillering stage and it forms a biomass mat as a mulch layer. The pumpkins
are planted in the open strips.

Problems we've had include the following;

- rodents love the rye and feed on seed. We've seen huge stand reductions. We
now transplant.

- weed control is limited, but usually good enough. Other strategies for weed
control are helpful.

- nutrients and moisture are tied up by the rye. Its good to use plastic
mulch and have drip underneath. You can applu fertilizer in strips before
laying the plastic mulch.


The positives we've seen have included;

- pretty good weed control. There may be ways to improve it.

- a real reduction in disease, particulary fruit rots.

- a great surface for harvest when it rains. This holds for workers and
customers too.

Overall its a system I like but it needs to be approached slowly and
carefully.

Bill


---- Original message ----
>Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:30:25 -0400
>From: "Mac" <gofish54 AT centurytel.net>
>Subject: [Market-farming] asparagus - cereal rye
>To: "market-farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>
>Has anyone prepared the ground for a new asparagus bed by planting winter
>rye the preceding fall? We are planning to put several rows in next spring
>and am thinking the rye may surpress weeds for a few months next summer.
>
>I am planning the same thing for our pumpkins, any problems with the seed
>germination? I was hoping the size of the seed would offset the
>allelopathic tendency of the rye. Please let me know if I am creating a
>problem for myself.
>
>Thanks
>Mac
>_______________________________________________
>Market-farming mailing list
>Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
>http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
>
William H Shoemaker, UI-NRES
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174
630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page