covering a cover crop with a tarp

cjp1953 · April 11, 2014

I want to cover my garden 12'x12' with a tarp so the cover crop will die back,but it's been raining every week.Can you still do this with the garden wet?Or should you wait for a few sunny days which we have a so few?I was hoping to get this done 4 weeks before planting.

Doug9345 · April 11, 2014

I think you are shortly going to run out of time. I'm going to guess that after the first week the conditions under the tarp aren't going to be much different whether you start realatively dry or relatively wet.

cjp1953 · April 11, 2014

We plant around Memorial Day,so I have 6 weeks but we have had almost 70 inches of snow this winter, that's 12 inches over average and we're having a very wet spring so far.What's in store for our summer?????I was hoping to warm up the garden with the cover in place but don't know what problems might happen if it's to wet.I guess I should wait and just mow it down before planting.

creister · April 11, 2014

Why not just cut it down?

cjp1953 · April 11, 2014

It has to dry out first and it's raining again today!

creister · April 11, 2014

You should have time, I usually cut mine, let it dry, rake it back, amend soil and then put the cover crop residue back on the soil as a mulch.

cjp1953 · April 11, 2014

They're calling for sunny skies and near 70 the next two days before more rain comes back.I'll check it Sunday if the weather stays nice.

creister · April 11, 2014

Some people cut and till in their cover crop as a green manure. I do the mulch thing because I do not till. Good Luck.

cjp1953 · April 12, 2014

That's what I'm thinking of doing.I don't have a tiller and turning the cover crop is rather hard on my back.No till seems like the best thing for the soil.I can cut it back with the mower and plant,then mulch.I think I can get a couple bales of alfalfa hay to use a thick layer of mulch.I was also thinking of a tarp to kill off the cover crop while warming the soil at the same time.That way I could mulch right a way.

creister · April 12, 2014

That sounds like a good plan. I've done no till for several years. My soil is friable and loose with plenty of worms. I always use thick mulch which I think is key for no till to work. Send us some rain we sure need it.

cjp1953 · April 12, 2014

I just saw on the weather channel you might have some rain coming your way,but I can't take credit for that.LOL.

Doug9345 · April 12, 2014

When I said that you'll shortly run out of time is that I figure it will take a minimum of two weeks to kill the cover crop, then you have to prepare the soil. I also assumed that you would be planting stuff besides tomatoes that can go out in early to mid may.

cjp1953 · April 12, 2014

Peppers,basil,tomatoes,eggplant,cucumbers.

cjp1953 · May 17, 2014

Took the tarp off last weekend after it was on for two weeks,looks like things went rather well.We had a few days with 80 degree weather and about 3" of rain!It's been cool the last few days with a high around 55 today.Welcome to NE Ohio.Hope to get my plants next weekend,tomato and peppers and plant on Memorial Day.I'm going to give the ground a couple weeks to warm up,then mulch with straw.I have grass clippings covering the garden and breaking down nicely.

creister · May 18, 2014

Glad to know it is working well. I bet when you plant out, there will be a large amount of earthworms in there.

April 11, 2014	#1
cjp1953 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio Posts: 818	covering a cover crop with a tarp I want to cover my garden 12'x12' with a tarp so the cover crop will die back,but it's been raining every week.Can you still do this with the garden wet?Or should you wait for a few sunny days which we have a so few?I was hoping to get this done 4 weeks before planting.

April 11, 2014	#2
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	I think you are shortly going to run out of time. I'm going to guess that after the first week the conditions under the tarp aren't going to be much different whether you start realatively dry or relatively wet.

April 11, 2014	#4
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Why not just cut it down?

April 12, 2014	#9
cjp1953 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio Posts: 818	That's what I'm thinking of doing.I don't have a tiller and turning the cover crop is rather hard on my back.No till seems like the best thing for the soil.I can cut it back with the mower and plant,then mulch.I think I can get a couple bales of alfalfa hay to use a thick layer of mulch.I was also thinking of a tarp to kill off the cover crop while warming the soil at the same time.That way I could mulch right a way.

May 17, 2014	#14
cjp1953 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio Posts: 818	Took the tarp off last weekend after it was on for two weeks,looks like things went rather well.We had a few days with 80 degree weather and about 3" of rain!It's been cool the last few days with a high around 55 today.Welcome to NE Ohio.Hope to get my plants next weekend,tomato and peppers and plant on Memorial Day.I'm going to give the ground a couple weeks to warm up,then mulch with straw.I have grass clippings covering the garden and breaking down nicely.

May 18, 2014	#15
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Glad to know it is working well. I bet when you plant out, there will be a large amount of earthworms in there.