Cover crops were seeded on October 4 in preparation for year two of the Illinois Department of Agriculture HR 133 grant: Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels.
The process
Seeding of spring oats at 30 lbs/acre, crimson clover at 10 lbs/acre and a complete fertilizer of 12-12-12 at 30 lbs/acre of nitrogen were broadcast-seeded down each row. Entire bed faces were watered daily with a garden hose and the drip irrigation lines seen in the pictures will be used as needed later to provide established cover crops adequate moisture.
Seed germination and emergence took about 5 to 7 days, and by October 20, the cover crops had started to fill in the beds. After another week’s growth on the cover crops, the cut flowers will be removed and that remaining bed will be seeded using the same rates of cover crop and fertilizer.
This additional week of cover crop growth should yield enough green plant material to provide adequate shelter/habit for beneficial insects that will be displaced when the cut flower row is removed. The beneficials will hopefully overwinter in the high tunnel and be established and ready to work next spring to provide insect pest control in the tomato and pepper crops.
Crop progress
Temperatures in the past couple of weeks continue to be very pleasant with highs in the mid-70s and lows mostly in the mid to lower 50s. Our portion of southern Illinois is extremely dry which has kept row crop farmers busy harvesting, but rain would definitely be welcomed for those trying to get wheat or other cover crops seeded and established. The numerous fall festivals across the region have benefited from this beautiful weather. It appears that late season tomatoes are still available to accompany typical fall crops as summer farmers markets transition to winter markets.
