Cover crops..when? How? And why?

Posted by Greatbambino024 | May 25, 2019 | Grower Questions | 3 |

I’ve been hearing a ton in the organic world about cover crops and see them a lot on buildasoil but I have no idea what exactly I’m doing with them. Do I sprout them and they grow with my cannabis or they just sit as seeds on the top? Someone school this noob please. Also yes I know how to Google but I like asking the dgc better

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Greatbambino024

3 Comments

JustCoolin on May 25, 2019 at 12:26 pm

Mimicking nature.
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JustCoolin on May 25, 2019 at 3:35 pm

Sorry I have a minute now. But that’s what we are attempting with cover crops. They have so many benefits all around making it a no brainer. First they are a living mulch- allowing the top layer not to dry out as fast and increasing space in which microbes can thrive. Also creating lots of root exudates and once cover is chopped the roots are carbon sources. More talk about microbes- they say different crops support different microbe families. Also when combining the microbes they in turn create even more diversity. So say each crop host 100 different microbes so separately that’s all you would get, but when just two get together they create in the range of like 800 different microbes families. With the benefits leveling out at around 6 different cover crops creating way more than theoretical 600 microbe families. They just grow exponentially almost. Creating such a wide range of soil protectors, solublizers, enzyme producers, cytokinin and so much more.

The individual crops tend to mine specific nutrients and minerals out of the soil or even the air. So you can target nutrients with cover crops. They will now be held in a plant available form. Once the season is over or the cover gets to large it can be chopped and used as a green mulch topdress. A little ewc and bokashi topdress will help get it into the soil faster.

Also can attract beneficial insects to the garden. Also keeps soil teeming with life when inbetween runs on no till setups. Im sure there’s more but that’s why I’m trying it out.
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JustCoolin on May 25, 2019 at 4:16 pm

And the how- easy enough most recommend a tablespoon per sqft. Just sprinkled into nice healthy soil with ewc topdress. Some light mulch to help retain moisture for germination. Lots of options for cover crop choices.
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