Ep. 184 Understanding the Power of Cover Crops: Tips for Home Gardeners

Good Growing

This week on the Good Growing Podcast: Join Ken and Chris as they delve into the fascinating world of cover crops! More and more home gardeners are discovering the benefits of using cover crops to enhance their gardens. Are you curious about how cover crops can transform your garden or landscape? Tune in to this week’s episode to uncover Ken and Chris’s top tips and insights on incorporating cover crops into your gardening routine.

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00:29 Hey Ken!
01:15 What is a cover crop and what would a home gardener use them to accomplish?
02:26 Why do people use cover crops: To help rebuild soil structure.
04:20 Why do people use cover crops: To break up soil compaction
04:40 Why do people use cover crops: Weed suppression
04:57 Why do people use cover crops: Fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil
05:22 Why do people use cover crops: Build up organic matter
05:38 What types of cover crops do we have to choose from?
08:07 Why do people use cover crops: It can look pretty
09:37 Why do people use cover crops: Attract pollinators or beneficial insects
10:02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLvJLHERYJI
10:45 Why do people use cover crops: Scavenge nutrients from the soil
13:36 Chris likes to use cover crops that winterkill.
15:37 Ken's preferred cover crop mix.
17:55 Why we terminate (kill) cover crops.
21:21 Ways to terminate (kill) your cover crop.
26:51 How soon can we plant into a recently terminated cover crop?
30:01 Drawbacks of cover crops
33:15 How do you choose what cover crop to use in your backyard?
34:57 Purdue Extension document - Cover Crops in the Home Garden https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-324-W.pdf
37:11 Cover crops and competition with nearby crops.
41:04 Can't we leave our dead vegetable crops in the ground and get the same results as a cover crop?
43:53 Why do people use cover crops: Allelopathic effects in the soil that can prevent weed seed germination.
44:22 Thank yous and coming up next week.