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Cover crops help prevent soil erosion and improve soil health.
CELINA - Now is an ideal time to plant cover crops in vegetable gardens to reduce soil erosion, suppress weed seeds, maintain soil nutrient levels and boost earthworm activities.
To assist novice and seasoned gardeners alike, Mercer County OSU Extension, in collaboration with Mercer Soil and Water Conservation District, is offering county residents up to 3 pounds of cover crop seed mix at no cost.
This is the third year Extension has headed up the program, according to Extension educator Ryan McMichael. It appears to be a success as the number of people coming in to get the seeds has risen from about 20 to more than 50.
Just as the case is with farm fields, vegetable gardens stand to reap tremendous benefits from cover crops - if applied properly. They grow on varying soil types, allow for germination and growth during colder fall days, prevent winter erosion and hold on to soil nutrients, according to information furnished by McMichael.
As the name suggests, cover crops are crops that "cover" the soil. Winter cover crops have been shown to reduce soil erosion and nitrogen leaching, suppress weeds and pests and increase soil organic matter, according to the American Society of Agronomy.
"Most of the ag retailers, they're going to sell it in a 50-pound bag for farmers to use. The amount a home gardener uses is very little," he said.
McMichael proceeded to pick up a small brown bag containing enough cover crop seeds for a 1,500-square-foot garden, which he said is fairly large.
"That's all they need for their cover crop seeds, so they're not going to want to purchase a 50-pound bag, and so we do this as an offering to residents, and our goal is just to help increase awareness about using cover crops," he explained.
The seeds can be picked up between 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Extension office located within the county agriculture center at 4978 Mud Pike. Office staff will also provide handouts outlining cover crop seeds and planting instructions.
"We have it somewhat prepackaged. All they have to know is the size of their garden in terms of square footage - or at least a size, and we can help them calculate that if they're not sure," McMichael said.
The office's mix consists of perennial rye, oats and radish seeds.
"The radish will help with compacted soil. It will basically kind of break down into that soil and work that way," he noted. "The oats, mainly it's a quicker establishment to get that garden kind of covered before the rye comes up."
Rye offers weed control through competition and shading of weeds, the handout states.
"The perennial rye is what is going to make it last over the winter and so with that it will help to reduce the amount of weeds that will be in the spring," McMichael said.
Now is an excellent time to plant cover crop seeds, but the act can usually be completed through mid to late October. However, McMichael warned there is a greater chance for frost damage when planting occurs later in October.
Extension advises broadcasting seeds over a prepared, weed-free seedbed. Seeds can be covered with half an inch of soil or raked in. Gardeners should apply "adequate moisture for germination and growth," the instructions read. Rye can reportedly provide dense growth within four to six weeks to suppress weeds.
"Cover crop establishment can easily be accomplished by planting into rows with a hoe or broadcast application by hand or spreader," the Extension handout states. "If the soil is hard, tillage and/or raking to create better seed-to-soil contact results in greater germination."
McMichael said the cover crop should be killed prior to the plant going to seed. It should be rubbed out when 4-7 inches tall in the spring day temperatures are greater than 50 degrees, typically by late April.
Gardeners can kill the plant by applying appropriate chemicals, covering them with a tarp or tilling them, he said.
"Cover crops can be an excellent way to build soil organic matter, recycle nutrients and control weeks," the Extension handout reads. "However, careful consideration of all the factors associated with cover crops is necessary before planting to ensure they help, rather than hinder, the main garden crops."
