This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, many farmers fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
This recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop mix of oats and radish after an early harvested processing vegetable, such as snap beans, cucumbers, peas, or early tomatoes. Both oat and radish can successfully establish in late summer to early fall and usually winter-kill. It is a low-risk mix that will help control tough perennial or winter annual weeds, minimize erosion, build soil structure, reduce compaction, and add some extra diversity to your rotation.
Planning and Preparation
- Planning—Keep it simple. Start small on one field. Be timely. Prioritize cover crop management based on your goals. Fine-tune the recipe for your needs over time. If cole or other Brassica crops are grown in the rotation, it’s best to use peas instead of radish in order to avoid a buildup of pest pressures.
- Vegetable planting—No modifications to the crop are required for the successful use of cover crops.
- Residual herbicides—Oats and radish are tolerant of most herbicides applied to the vegetable crop in-season.
- Seed purchase—Seed supplies and prices can vary depending on the time of year; it is good practice to order seed early (before harvest). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has compiled a list of reputable cover crop seed suppliers (see Resources).
- Fertility or manure—Fall fertilizer incorporation can damage the living cover crop. Plan for fertilizer or manure application before planting the cover crop or after the cover crop winter-kills, or use a low-disturbance injection method to minimize damage.
Summer/Fall Work
- Vegetable harvest—Ensure that crop residues are spread evenly. Some light tillage can help with residue breakdown under the cover crop canopy. If the field was heavily tracked or rutted during harvest, level the field with tillage. For early harvested vegetables, such as peas, waiting a few weeks may allow for breakdown of crop residues and improve the seedbed for the cover crop.
- Timing of planting—Plant the oat-radish mix between mid-August and mid-September. Planting radish prior to August is not recommended as it will often result in flowering and seed production instead of quick coverage and biomass accumulation.
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