Thanks to Fiverr for sponsoring today’s video. Head to https://Fvrr.co/huwsgarden to check out the services available to you and get 10% off with code HUWSGARDEN | Today’s video explores a topic I have wanted to feature for a while on the channel and I decided to create an introduction video to introduce the subject of cover crops before I go into this in more depth. We look at what is a cover crop versus a green manure, the key benefits of cover crops that vegetable gardeners need to know, 6-7 areas where planting a cover crop can make sense, and finally some recommended ‘get started with’ cover crops for no-dig gardens.
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35 Comments
Hola desde chile ..me encantan tus videos muy inspirador y siempre preparándome para la nueva temporada ..gracias
Hi Huw, Could you explain more about how cover crops make the nutrients more bioavailable than simply leaving them in the soil ? Thanks for the great channel.
With the hot summer and a lack of mulch material, I bought some bailed straw and mulched pretty much all the beds, since commercial wheat/barley is mostly short stem, is then combined and put into huge round bails thesdays, straw bails (the smaller square bails) are usally made from wheat/barley grown specifically for the small bail horse bedding market rather than the seed/crop, if it is combined it's with older less efficient machines, so it still contains most of the seeds – which means you get an added bonus voulenteer cover crop! It worked brilliantly between potatoes, corn, toms/peppers and bush/pole beans, most of the crops are out now but the wheat/barley and mulch is still covering the beds for winter.
I really enjoyed this video Huw, masses of information and lots of lovely footage – thank you!
A very beneficial winter cover crop is Cereal Rye, aka Winter Rye. In addition to serving as a winter cover crop to protect the soil, the roots of Cereal Rye is a trap plant for Root Nematodes. The root nematodes will be attracted to the rye roots where they will be trapped and killed. In the spring, as soon as the rye sends up seed heads, cut off the plants at soil level and leave the tops on the soil to serve as a green manure. In a couple weeks the rye roots will have decomposed, the root nematodes will be gone, and the soil will be enriched by the green manure as well as the decomposed roots. Be sure, though, to use Cereal Rye, and DO NOT plant Annual Rye Grass.
I see you changing the video title 🙂
Any advice on a cover crop for a bed which doesn't get sun over 4 ish months of the year?
Hallo, can you tell me if I planted mustard as cover crop can I use it for making mustard? Thank you for your good explanation on your video's 👍😊
Huw is very knowledgeable, and his garden looks gloriously healthy. They say the proof is in the pudding. I sincerely enjoy his channel and clear method of communication!
Hi Huw. I really need to use cover crops and green manures as animal manures and compost are expensive and difficult to get into my are allotment because of poor access. However aren’t your cover crops also acting as refuges for slugs and snails? Risking your main crop?
Why don't you grow fruits
Do you pronounce your name like “Hugh” ? Love your channel ❤
👩🏽🌾❤️🌞🌹
Regards from Italy
It's counter-intuitive to cut & drop cover crops for use as green manure, because this must be the perfect environment for slugs. Obviously the benefits outweigh the downsides?
Hello toi ! Ça va ? Superbe ton jardin , bravo grand !
What I love about Huw, is he doesn't "shoot the bull". Every sentence is informative:) Thanks for your videos and knowledge.
And more , it's the best both grow worls !
When I try to plant radishes between rows like Huw did, I get scrawny and tiny plants that have zero chance of developing a nice bulbous root. There's not enough sun down there, I guess. What's the secret?
well done, Huw, thank you!
Huw great information I am glad that you mention the daikon radish as i plant a few. Buckwheat is one my favourite wild flowers.
The mustard you are sowing (is that in October?) to cover the ground whilst the garlic is in the ground, does it grow much in the autumn/winter? When it's tall and full of leaves, won't it block the light from the garlic? How do you know when to chop the mustard down?
Thank you Huw for the more indepth information on how important it is to nurture and protect the soil. It helps to know "the why" of what we need to do, to better our soil and to grow healthier crops. Great video! Blessings on your day Kiddo from Ohio 🥰🌻🐛🍁🍂
Love the animation, so informative! I seeded crimson clover last fall for the first time. It survived the winter and flowered in spring. After cutting it down I planted my Roma tomatoes and sweet peppers and had DOUBLE the produce of previous years. Highly recommended!
Thank you for such an interesting video! Such great info.
I feel privileged to be among the first 400 people to view this video!
Another great video!! But I was hoping you would mention winter rye? I planted it in my brand new raised bed. It is about 8" tall now. I live in the Hudson Valley, New York. Again, I love, and share your videos!!
How do I know what my cover crops my soil needs? New to no dig x
Thank you!
if u see a "15 min add" reload the page, if u still get another add go to a youtube vid downloader nd watch the video from there
Isn’t it too late in the season (zone 8 I think the same as your area…. PNW usa) to plant cover crops to amend my soil?
Awesome video! Excellent content and production. Thanks!
radish ,mustard and tagetes sown around brassicas can reduce the number of pest root nematodes .
New-ish to gardening and we are trying to do a deep mulch garden, how do you do cover crops with a deep mulch method garden or can you even? 🤔
I've grown hairy vetch for years in my garden and believe it hurt the production of my pole lima beans. I always had success with lima beans until I started planting the vetch in those beds the previous Autumn. The vetch seemed to cause my limas to grow huge leafy plants with no beans. Did you ever run into any cover crops providing too much nitrogen for certain plants?