Most cover crops are a fall affair. Planting seed like crimson clover or rye can be depressing because it means winter will soon sequester the barren land for three months. Still, not all cover crops need the fall fixture for optimum growth. Buckwheat, also known as the "phosphorous pump", is a beautiful and beneficial addition to a summer garden. Buckwheat is unique in its ability to mine phosphorous from the soil into its roots. … [Read more...] about Buckwheat: The Phosphorous Philanthropist
Crimson Clover
What Heat?
August sits on the air like a bag of wet hot cement. Mid-day movement in the garden is impossible, and thoughts of ice baths are paradise compared to dirt digging. Still, if you're a growing addict fiending for a garden fix, there are plenty of things to do. Some of these entail indoor activity, while others suggest limited outdoor work. Just take precautions by working early or late in the day when the sun isn't as sinister. Cover crops planning While it's still a little early to throw cover … [Read more...] about What Heat?
Hammer the Heat by Falling for Cover Crops Part 1
The tyrannical heat that this summer has bestowed upon the south remains unrelenting. Sweat seeps while humidity hangs in the air like invisible wet cement. Besides bathing in ice, the only way to ignore the heat is to dream of the fall garden. Simple tasks like hoeing and direct sowing loses its oppressive air in the autumn. Thoughts don't seem as stuffy, and the mind can wander to whimsical thoughts of planting without salty perspiration lathering the eyes. One of the best preparatory … [Read more...] about Hammer the Heat by Falling for Cover Crops Part 1
The Dirt on Those Sneaky Cover Crops
Ah, the uncelebrated cover crop. Saviour of many, yet thanked by few. They are not as sexy as the voluptuous tomato nor do they possess the rainbow gathering of certain chards. Cover crops remain unsung heroes because most of their goodwill happens under the soil (although one would certainly be devoid of heart if they didn't find a field of crimson clover breathtaking). Cover crops create a soil microclimate, which are rich in nutrients. Basically, a grower can scatter cover … [Read more...] about The Dirt on Those Sneaky Cover Crops
