Companion plants Vs Mulch?

Kind Sir

Kind Sir

Well-Known Member
So at first I thought you could do both, but was reading that you should either lay down mulch OR sprinkle companion plants seeds.

I have a bag of Buildasoils 12 seed cover crop, but I also have Comfrey in my garden I wanted to use. Obviously could just Topdress it and such. I was reading some NoTill OGs saying that cover crops are just extra work, I wouldn’t know so that’s why I’m asking. What do you guys think?
 
Kind Sir said:
So at first I thought you could do both, but was reading that you should either lay down mulch OR sprinkle companion plants seeds.

I have a bag of Buildasoils 12 seed cover crop, but I also have Comfrey in my garden I wanted to use. Obviously could just Topdress it and such. I was reading some NoTill OGs saying that cover crops are just extra work, I wouldn’t know so that’s why I’m asking. What do you guys think?
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I have cover in my non-cannabis vegetable garden. I like that it does seem to help support some beneficial bugs. I had a lot of lady bugs in the cover early in the season, and I've seen mantises in there.

My biggest concern is that I have noticed possible PM on some of the cover. It hasn't spread onto the tomatoes or peppers around it, but it does make me paranoid.

If you do use cover, use fewer seeds than you think you need, because once it sprouts, it jumps up pretty quickly, and it will turn into dense, out of control growth. I rip out handfuls sometimes to thin it out a little.

I haven't used cover crop with my cannabis though.
 
Tracker said:
I have cover in my non-cannabis vegetable garden. I like that it does seem to help support some beneficial bugs. I had a lot of lady bugs in the cover early in the season, and I've seen mantises in there.

My biggest concern is that I have noticed possible PM on some of the cover. It hasn't spread onto the tomatoes or peppers around it, but it does make me paranoid.

If you do use cover, use fewer seeds than you think you need, because once it sprouts, it jumps up pretty quickly, and it will turn into dense, out of control growth. I rip out handfuls sometimes to thin it out a little.

I haven't used cover crop with my cannabis though.
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I was thinking that I’ll cut up my comfrey, rinse it off and use that as mulch.. and then find a few “plants” that are helpful with deterring pests and plant a couple of those or something.

I appreciate your input. I have read about people seeing PM on their cover crops. Some people’s notill look like jungles, I honestly thought that was awesome but after reading about it i’m not sure
 
Kind Sir said:
I was thinking that I’ll cut up my comfrey, rinse it off and use that as mulch.. and then find a few “plants” that are helpful with deterring pests and plant a couple of those or something.

I appreciate your input. I have read about people seeing PM on their cover crops. Some people’s notill look like jungles, I honestly thought that was awesome but after reading about it i’m not sure
Click to expand...
I usually rip out enough from a 3x12 bed to fill a 3 gal pot every week. I put it in the compost to till in next season.
 
This is the one I use. It's way more seed in the package than I need. I used less than a quarter of the package to cover around 100sqft of beds and planters. That made a super dense cover. It just reseeds itself.

No-Till Cover Crop 13-Seed Mix (1 lb. Bag): [50% Clovers Plus Fenugreek, Vetch, Flax, Cowpeas, Buckwheat, Forage Peas, Millet, Lentils, Crimson Clover, Sweet Yellow, White Clover, Medium Red Clover] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQC188...abc_HWPZSXXWCG62G5EQASPA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
 
Tracker said:
I usually rip out enough from a 3x12 bed to fill a 3 gal pot every week. I put it in the compost to till in next season.
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You harvest some every week? I’m unsure if the best protocol regarding harvesting the comfrey. I thought I read somewhere something about the first time you harvest, it can’t recall.
 
Kind Sir said:
You harvest some every week? I’m unsure if the best protocol regarding harvesting the comfrey. I thought I read somewhere something about the first time you harvest, it can’t recall.
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Yeah, I just grab handfuls and rip it out. The roots don't usually come out with it. It grows back.
 
I decided to go with mulch only for now. I'm using rice hulls. But there's some pumice in some of it since when I topdress with EWC I usually add some pumice to add some aeration. Straw works too. BAS has both rice hulls or straw.
 
It gets like 8 to 10 inches thick. Don't try to put any thyme, marjoram, or anything low that needs to grow up through it nearby. It'll just smother it out quick!
 
PadawanWarrior said:
I decided to go with mulch only for now. I'm using rice hulls. But there's some pumice in some of it since when I topdress with EWC I usually add some pumice to add some aeration. Straw works too. BAS has both rice hulls or straw.
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What made you switch? I have a worm bin going as well, what amendments do you put in yours and also didn’t realize you out aeration in worm bins!

I LOVE BAS but it’s expensive to ship much, I was going to use the comfrey I have growing. I’m assuming most just harvest, rinse it off, then cut it up a little?
 
Kind Sir said:
What made you switch? I have a worm bin going as well, what amendments do you put in yours and also didn’t realize you out aeration in worm bins!

I LOVE BAS but it’s expensive to ship much, I was going to use the comfrey I have growing. I’m assuming most just harvest, rinse it off, then cut it up a little?
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I never switched. I've always had rice hulls as mulch. And I thought we were talking about pots of soil, not worm bins.

I have a ton of stuff from BAS though, and more coming. 2 cu ft of Oly Mountain Fish Compost and 2 cu ft of pumice will be here in a couple days.

Shipping's not as bad for me since I'm in CO.
 
I like to mulching snd cover cropping. I think they go hand in hand. Per season the cover crops and cannabis leaves are mulched in. Over time this makes a super crazy mulch layer that can be resowed with seeds time snd time again. Right before harvest I re seed the beds. Cover with leaves and watch the churning decomposition eat the inputs. Then new seeds grow, scratch an area for clones and plant right away. No real right or wrong way. You just need to replace what’s taken out of the bed one way or another
 
PadawanWarrior said:
I never switched. I've always had rice hulls as mulch. And I thought we were talking about pots of soil, not worm bins.

I have a ton of stuff from BAS though, and more coming. 2 cu ft of Oly Mountain Fish Compost and 2 cu ft of pumice will be here in a couple days.

Shipping's not as bad for me since I'm in CO.
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Oh I was talking about soil, a 4x4 bed for me. Just adding I have a worm bin as well.

That compost was stupid expensive to ship or I would’ve done it, pumice and compost is what I wanted. It was like 50$ to ship one bag.

What do you add to your worm bin, amendment wise?
 
Kind Sir said:
Oh I was talking about soil, a 4x4 bed for me. Just adding I have a worm bin as well.

That compost was stupid expensive to ship or I would’ve done it, pumice and compost is what I wanted. It was like 50$ to ship one bag.

What do you add to your worm bin, amendment wise?
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I don't have a worm bed. I get it from BAS. Shipping was $67 for me for 2 bags pumice and 2 bags Oly Mountain. So about $17 a bag.
 
I would go with straight mulch over messing with companion plants. Cover crops when nothing is in the container is a good practice however. It's fine to spread chopped up comfrey, but it isn't a great mulch since it wilts quickly. I usually use barley straw for mulch, then spread it back, add a layer of comfrey, then put the straw back on top, that really starts your soil working on the comfrey.
 
Kind Sir said:
NoTill OGs saying that cover crops are just extra work, I wouldn’t know so that’s why I’m asking. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
i dont do companion plants by logic of, you are planting something that will take away nutrients from the soil that's suppose to provide those nutrients to the primary plant, be it cannabis, squash, what have you. why do we pull weeds from a garden bed? just let it go wild if companion plants are good...oh wait you dont think that's a good idea? then why are you planting a different plant that just replaces the nutrient leeching weeds? you just voluntarily introduced a parasitic organism lol...thinking it will have benefits...sounds like flushing before harvest....just dumb.
that spot of earth is meant to grow that particular plant, whatever it may be, and that's it. that's my opinion, not facts,.. relax, find some other post to quote and argue with.
edit:mulch all the way, always
 
mudballs said:
i dont do companion plants by logic of, you are planting something that will take away nutrients from the soil that's suppose to provide those nutrients to the primary plant, be it cannabis, squash, what have you. why do we pull weeds from a garden bed? just let it go wild if companion plants are good...oh wait you dont think that's a good idea? then why are you planting a different plant that just replaces the nutrient leeching weeds? you just voluntarily introduced a parasitic organism lol...thinking it will have benefits...sounds like flushing before harvest....just dumb.
that spot of earth is meant to grow that particular plant, whatever it may be, and that's it. that's my opinion, not facts,.. relax, find some other post to quote and argue with.
edit:mulch all the way, always
Click to expand...
I’m not entirely sure if you’re telling me to relax or someone else, as I don’t see anyone arguing here. Not even going there with you, very unfortunate you feel that way as I rarely see people get aggressive here in years.

Sounds like a comfrey topdress and a basic mulch it is. I appreciate the responses guys. I feel like every cover crop is different, would have to research every individual plant. A side by side would be pretty cool.
 
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