Post by richardw on Mar 6, 2012 14:43:53 GMT -5
A system ive been working on over the last couple of seasons for growing Corn and Broad bean seed crops.
I have two areas that alternate between the two crops each other year which have oats sown as a green crop as the broad beans are been harvested,before i pull the beans out i throw oats over the top of the bed, then as the beans are been pulled&picked they are placed back on the ground again and any weeds go on top so that they are able to dry out and not regrow again,the pulling action sows the oats but also flicking the dirt off the roots will also help cover it as well.Once a bed is done a net goes over to stop birds getting at the seed.
In the photo it shows two beds at the back that have already been sown in oats,furthest one two weeks ago and the closest only five days.
These beds will get dug under in spring and corn sown.
Similar happens at corn harvesting time,broad bean seed is thrown over the top of the corn plants as i pick the seed cobs,then using a large knife i chop down the corn so that the broad beans are covered,i will hand water this area for about a week, the beans will then find there way through the corn mulch,the beans will get to about 30cm before winter and come away again in spring as a seed crop.
So these two garden areas only get dug once every two years by which time the corn stumps have rooted down enough to help make the digging easier.
A system that works well for me
I have two areas that alternate between the two crops each other year which have oats sown as a green crop as the broad beans are been harvested,before i pull the beans out i throw oats over the top of the bed, then as the beans are been pulled&picked they are placed back on the ground again and any weeds go on top so that they are able to dry out and not regrow again,the pulling action sows the oats but also flicking the dirt off the roots will also help cover it as well.Once a bed is done a net goes over to stop birds getting at the seed.
In the photo it shows two beds at the back that have already been sown in oats,furthest one two weeks ago and the closest only five days.
These beds will get dug under in spring and corn sown.
Similar happens at corn harvesting time,broad bean seed is thrown over the top of the corn plants as i pick the seed cobs,then using a large knife i chop down the corn so that the broad beans are covered,i will hand water this area for about a week, the beans will then find there way through the corn mulch,the beans will get to about 30cm before winter and come away again in spring as a seed crop.
So these two garden areas only get dug once every two years by which time the corn stumps have rooted down enough to help make the digging easier.
A system that works well for me