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Beeeeeeep........This week we are interrupting our normal programming on WASTE REDUCTION to bring you a SPECIAL episode by my friend, Farmer Jenn, from Birch Lane Elementary School in Davis!
Beeeeeeep........This week we are interrupting our normal programming on WASTE REDUCTION to bring you a SPECIAL episode by my friend, Farmer Jenn, from Birch Lane Elementary School in Davis!
Fall is coming to a close and many of our warm season crops have finished growing. What shall we do with our gardens next?
Some gardeners might plant cool season vegetables (like broccoli, radish, peas, and kale) while others might plant a cover crop in their gardens. At the Pioneer Elementary School garden we will do BOTH. Half of our beds will contain edibles while the other half will contain a cover crop.
WHAT IS A COVER CROP?
A cover crops are like superheroes of the garden! They protect our soil and can almost magically improve its quality in a few months! Cover crops are planted as seeds, watered, and allowed to grow for one to three months. Before they produce seeds of their own, the grown plants are chopped and mixed into the soil. When the plants break down, they release nutrients into the soil. Many farmers use this method (instead of adding synthetic fertilizers) to replenish soil after growing a food crop.
Cover crops are DEFENDERS OF THE GARDEN. They...
PROTECT the soil from erosion due to wind and rain
PREVENT INVASION from pesky weeds
REPLENISH the soil with nutrients
ENRICH the soil with organic material
DEFEND against some garden pests
and IMPROVE soil texture!
Learn more about cover crops by watching this fun video by my friend, Farmer Jenn from Birch Lane Elementary school, and her kids!
Once you complete this lesson, take this short QUIZ!
Once you complete this lesson, take this short QUIZ!
Farmer Jenn from Birch Lane Elementary School will introduce you to some amazing Cover Crop Superheroes! Watch this video and decide which cover crop your garden needs! (Many thanks to Farmer Jenn Rogge and family for making and sharing this fantastic video with us! ❤️
Photos of some cover crops
Photos of some cover crops
Crimson Clover
Crimson Clover
beautiful, low growing, adds organic material, adds nitrogen (fuel for your plants)
Photo by Steve Prior, USDA
Peas and Oats
Peas and Oats
dense growth, prevents weeds, adds organic material and nitrogen
Shutterstock
Buckwheat
Buckwheat
very fast growth, adds organic material
Shutterstock
Winter Wheat
Winter Wheat
Same wheat you eat! Does not encourage growth of root knot nematodes, adds organic material
Ms.Sheryl@Pioneer Garden
Oilseed radish
Oilseed radish
loosens soil, adds organic material
Photo by Dr. Ray Weil, University of Maryland.
Vetch
Vetch
nitrogen (fuel for your plants), adds organic material
Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA
If you are interested in planting a cover crop, seeds can be purchased at https://www.johnnyseeds.com Be sure. you purchase the right seed for the season! Have fun and please email Ms. Sheryl at pioneerelementarygarden@gmail.com if you have any questions.
If you are interested in planting a cover crop, seeds can be purchased at https://www.johnnyseeds.com Be sure. you purchase the right seed for the season! Have fun and please email Ms. Sheryl at pioneerelementarygarden@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Finished with the lesson? Take this short QUIZ!
Finished with the lesson? Take this short QUIZ!
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