weird question for "resting" my garden

tarheelchick · July 5, 2019

I have a very small vegetable garden (roughly 15' x 15') and each summer I plant tomatoes, cukes, peppers, etc. Over the winter, I have been planting an annual rye grass as a cover crop and then just mow it down in early spring. I do not till. I layer over with leave mulch and straw. My soil is in pretty good shape and I have lots of worms. Yay!

Here's my question. Next year, I will be traveling from about March through August and so I will not be planting my usual summer vegetables. My garden will be unused over the summer and I am wondering what the best way will be to keep it "covered" while not being used. I don't want to deal with weeds, erosion, and losing out on all the work I've put in getting such nice soil to this point. I know the rye grass will die out over the hot summer next year. Should I get my husband to layer some leaf mulch over the top during the heat of the summer? (he will still be home and will do that if I ask). Plant some other kind of cover crop to last over the summer? Leave it alone until I return?

Any advice is much appreciated!

ContainerTed · July 5, 2019

If you have a means of collecting clipping from mowing the lawn, I would add that as well as leaves (no walnut or hickory). He can add some other veggie matter and pile it on deep. When you return in the fall, till it all in and enjoy the benefits of the new additives in your 2021 season.

PaulF · July 5, 2019

Found this on NC extension pages;

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/summer-cover-crops

oakley · July 5, 2019

I have two small back beds that used to be garlic and the other leeks/onions. (I built two larger beds a couple years ago for those crops)

One of the small beds I covered with cardboard and black plastic. The other I left
alone, took out the raised bed for a much needed seating area but what a mess. The
weeds took over and totally spent the soil. I covered it a couple weeks ago so I can at
least kill it back and rake it smooth in August.

If using organic matter like leaves, keep it thick and have him add more if it breaks down.
Unwanted weed seed is everywhere.

If your climate is kind to a Fall crop, you could have him pock a dozen or two dozen holes and
plant some seeds early-mid August. (or do that when you return). Covered, your soil will be
rich and easy to plant in.

hovermother22 · April 18, 2021

I plant about 25 tomato plants in a sunny area in my front yard. I have very limited space. I have planted them there for about five years now, without "resting" the area or planting a cover crop. I will plant a cover crop after this season. I keep forgetting to do that

. I have a lot of processed chicken manure I need to use up. Do you think if I add a lot of that into my soil, it will help? I did it last year, and had a pretty good yield. Plus, I use Texas Tomato food during the season.

maricybele · August 29, 2021

Chicken manure compost is my favorite. If it hasn't been composted it can be hot and strong, if processed means composted great. I add that to beds in the late fall winter for best results and very little incorporated into the soil if at other times. With chicken compost, I hardly have to use anything else to fertilize the worms do the rest.

solid7 · November 7, 2021

I don't have the luxury of deciduous tree leaves here; but when I did, they were tops. You can't overdo them, and there's always plenty. Makes the richest, softest soil I've ever seen.

kurt · November 9, 2021

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/l...-solarization/

Might want to try,here in S Florida it is done all the time.

July 5, 2019	#1
tarheelchick Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: NC Posts: 97	weird question for "resting" my garden I have a very small vegetable garden (roughly 15' x 15') and each summer I plant tomatoes, cukes, peppers, etc. Over the winter, I have been planting an annual rye grass as a cover crop and then just mow it down in early spring. I do not till. I layer over with leave mulch and straw. My soil is in pretty good shape and I have lots of worms. Yay! Here's my question. Next year, I will be traveling from about March through August and so I will not be planting my usual summer vegetables. My garden will be unused over the summer and I am wondering what the best way will be to keep it "covered" while not being used. I don't want to deal with weeds, erosion, and losing out on all the work I've put in getting such nice soil to this point. I know the rye grass will die out over the hot summer next year. Should I get my husband to layer some leaf mulch over the top during the heat of the summer? (he will still be home and will do that if I ask). Plant some other kind of cover crop to last over the summer? Leave it alone until I return? Any advice is much appreciated!

July 5, 2019	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	If you have a means of collecting clipping from mowing the lawn, I would add that as well as leaves (no walnut or hickory). He can add some other veggie matter and pile it on deep. When you return in the fall, till it all in and enjoy the benefits of the new additives in your 2021 season. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

July 5, 2019	#3
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,294	Found this on NC extension pages; https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/summer-cover-crops __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

April 18, 2021	#5
hovermother22 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Chicago Posts: 70	"Resting" the soil I plant about 25 tomato plants in a sunny area in my front yard. I have very limited space. I have planted them there for about five years now, without "resting" the area or planting a cover crop. I will plant a cover crop after this season. I keep forgetting to do that . I have a lot of processed chicken manure I need to use up. Do you think if I add a lot of that into my soil, it will help? I did it last year, and had a pretty good yield. Plus, I use Texas Tomato food during the season.

November 9, 2021	#8
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/l...-solarization/ Might want to try,here in S Florida it is done all the time. __________________ KURT

July 5, 2019	#4
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	I have two small back beds that used to be garlic and the other leeks/onions. (I built two larger beds a couple years ago for those crops) One of the small beds I covered with cardboard and black plastic. The other I left alone, took out the raised bed for a much needed seating area but what a mess. The weeds took over and totally spent the soil. I covered it a couple weeks ago so I can at least kill it back and rake it smooth in August. If using organic matter like leaves, keep it thick and have him add more if it breaks down. Unwanted weed seed is everywhere. If your climate is kind to a Fall crop, you could have him pock a dozen or two dozen holes and plant some seeds early-mid August. (or do that when you return). Covered, your soil will be rich and easy to plant in.

August 29, 2021	#6
maricybele Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oregon zone 8 Posts: 99	Chicken manure compost is my favorite. If it hasn't been composted it can be hot and strong, if processed means composted great. I add that to beds in the late fall winter for best results and very little incorporated into the soil if at other times. With chicken compost, I hardly have to use anything else to fertilize the worms do the rest.

November 7, 2021	#7
solid7 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida (East Central Coast) Posts: 78	I don't have the luxury of deciduous tree leaves here; but when I did, they were tops. You can't overdo them, and there's always plenty. Makes the richest, softest soil I've ever seen.