Q: I hear people talk about planting a green cover crop in their garden. What are they talking about?
A: Many folks plant cool season plants in their garden to put nutrients and organic matter back into the soil. Some of those most often used are winter peas, wheat and annual rye.
These plants will grow in the cool part of the season until it gets really cold. A few months before you plant your next summer garden these annual plants will be tilled into the soil and allowed to decay.
This will add organic matter to the soil which will hold moisture and nutrients better in the next growing season. They also have phosphorus and potassium in them which at some point will be available for plant growth.
Making sure you till this in a few months before spring planting is required to allow the decomposition of the plants.
For more information contact the OSU Extension Center, 14001 Acme Road, corner of MacArthur and Acme Road in Shawnee or call 273-7683.
