Cover Crops ? :)

Kaptain Kronic

Active Member
Hey guys ... I'm trying to learn about cover crops for no till ... Mainly, what plants give what benefits ? I'm sure this has been discussed before so feel free to leave links to previous discussions, i don't mind reading ... Many thanks !!!
 

spek9

Well-Known Member
Indoor or outdoor? In other words, what type of benefits are you looking for? Concealment? Pest prevention?
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Pest prevention ... Indoors ... Out in the sticks with all kinds of bugs
Hello fellow Okie! You should probably look into growing companion plants that attract beneficial insects! This was what I found yesterday, it was a grasshopper but he's being stalked by an assassin bug(red). Most of the bugs that eat aphids and spider mites are pollinators(or atleast eat pollen). My wife is going to OSU, so she gave me the great idea that she needed more flowers planted and I didn't argue. I actually gave her some money to get some lol. There are more plants than what are on this list and we are focusing on Green Lacewings: DSC01365.JPG
 

Northwood

Well-Known Member
For no-till, you want something that can germinate and get established in the shade, and provide deep roots,. Any legume is a good choice for their association with nitrogen fixing bacteria. Ensure you inoculate. Surprisingly grasses mixed in has proven for me to be good too. For example, a mix of clover and annual rye. The worms in my pot really congregate where they dying rye plant was... lol
 

Kaptain Kronic

Active Member
Hello fellow Okie! You should probably look into growing companion plants that attract beneficial insects! This was what I found yesterday, it was a grasshopper but he's being stalked by an assassin bug(red). Most of the bugs that eat aphids and spider mites are pollinators(or atleast eat pollen). My wife is going to OSU, so she gave me the great idea that she needed more flowers planted and I didn't argue. I actually gave her some money to get some lol. There are more plants than what are on this list and we are focusing on Green Lacewings: View attachment 4612798
Hey there bro ... Long time no chat lol ... I been so busy
 

4ftRoots

Well-Known Member
Cover crops really won't prevent pests indoors unless you have a room big enough to create an ecosystem. That being said, I run clover mulch indoors with plenty of rotting organic matter. It keep worms and beneficial mites at the soil level. My biggest concern is spider mites and I've kept them away this far.
 
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