Hairy Vetch as Green Manure

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Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Hairy
• Vetch
• as
• Green
• Manure

[gardengirlgarden04]

Not sure if I understand your question. I would believe that if you cut hay in the early spring you would damage the hairy vetch and would not get the spring growth spurt which serves as the mulch layer. If you pull the vetch out of the ground, the most of the nitrogen nodules come with it. That is why we cut the vetch at the soil level. Hope this helps.

[trapperman1987]

@jacobscamera HI i was wondering if you could tell me, if i were to plant a field into cover crops like perhaps vetch, would i be able to cut the hay off of it in early spring to have a hay crop before i no-till corn into it? i know this would reduce the amount of cover left on top for the mulch effect but if i could recieve the hay, the nitrogen fixing nodules, and not disturb the soil, that is what i would like to do. any advice is much appreciated thanks

[jacobscamera]

@together0in0music We usually plant on or before October 15. We just want to insure good germination and adequate growth before the weather gets colder and growth halts.

[Fashionpoint1997]

but, it takes around 2 years to take the full effect (due to nitrogen fixing bact population have to grow) and a little draw back is: one have to trim them down regulary to prevent over grow the main crop plants, also the produce could be smaller in size if compare to chemical fertilizer; but it is sure punched with unimaginable nutrient and the taste of "mom's grown food".

:-) i am gonna try the method myself here in Germany when i got my land.. :-) can't wait. cheers. happy organic farming.

[Fashionpoint1997]

i visited organic farms of saints of NTC all around the world, using this method to do Organic 100% and indeed God blessed them tremendously. tell me if you need to know where is the farm in USA. i will be glad to share a good news to good ppl out there. :-)

[Fashionpoint1997]

@ MegaJim79

:-) i think "Tilting ground era" is soon gonna be a thing of the past. Now more ppl know that exposing soil is bad for ground organism.. so, we are doing cover crop method with mixing of 7 or more different type of legume to do "nature fertilizing".

This is the way of the Garden of Eden, no weeding, no tilting ground like no tomorrow, no wasting machinery fossil fuel (and causing more serious global warming) and it is certainly healthier soil which interm produce better crops.

[together0in0music]

We live in Cincinnati. What was the date you planted the hairy vetch?

[jacobscamera]

There is no need to till the vetch into the soil to receive the nitrogen fixing benefits. The nitrogen fixing bacteria are in the soil around the hairy vetch roots and as long as you cut the plants at the soil level, you are leaving the nitrogen in the soil where you want it. The hairy vetch has outperformed the black landscape fabric for us at Greenacres and is both cheaper, more environmentally sound.

[bin1127]

I pulled up an invasive mint plant just now and saw those white nodules. I kinds guessed they were nitrogen. Nice informative video.

[DrewDubious]

@MegaJim79 nitrogen fixes directly to the roots of the plants.