Cover Crops and a No-Till How-To

01. With fall here in no uncertain terms, getting the farm ready for winter has become one of our top priorities.  About a third of our beds are filled with cover crop at this point, while the rest still hold cold-tolerant vegetables, like turnips, radishes and lettuce.  Each of these beds will be planted to cover crop one by one, as we harvest out the last of the vegetables they hold. 

Growing a cover crop can be one of the most satisfying parts of farming, especially when it’s done right.  Each cover crop serves different purposes, and choosing which ones to plant in a given area can feel a bit like creating a diet plan. 

At this point in the season, we plant a variety of “green manure” mixes that will put on good growth in the cold weather of the fall, but then die on top of the beds once the winter arrives, providing a thick layer of mulch to last through to the spring.  

—Robin Hackett, Farm Manager

02. No-till Bed Prep

• Equipment needed:

• 60 ft x 30 in bedspace

• rake (wider the better)

• plastic tarp

• power harrow (not necessary but nice to have)

Steps

• tarp existing crop for a minimum of two days (depending on heat and sun the plant may take longer/shorter to die)

• rake foliage into walkways to decompose, then rake up the sides of the bed

• use rake to push and pull soil to ensure bed is 30 inches across

• harrow bed for extra smoothness (this is great for when direct seeding)

Voila! No tilling necessary 

—Beatrice, Farm Crew