cover cropping flood irrigated flower farm
Tom Wikstrom (wikstrom@inovion.com)
Wed, 18 Nov 1998 21:43:19 -0700
For the last six years I have raised specialty cut flowers ( flowers not
roses, carnations or mums) on a small farm in Ogden. The fields are
furrowed on 30" centers and flood irriagated. To date, cow manure is
applied once each year in the late fall and plowed under immediately. The
fields are disked in spring and furrowed for planting. Cultivation is done
between the rows with sweeps and alongside the plants with a wheel hoe and
by hand. Between 30K and 40K annual and perennial plugs are planted by
hand. When this is completed, I cultivate as much as possible until
harvest begins and then between harvests. Weeds are a huge problem,
especially in the perennial beds. I am looking for a way to plant a cover
crop along with the annuals in the spring, to hold weeds back and to
enhance the soil nutrients. I also would like to plant a cover in the
perennial beds. The annual fields are bare in winter. I am trying to find
a way to either carry the cover crop through the winter or disk and plant
another in the fall. We sell flowers in farmers markets which end around
mid-October. Hence, I would like to wait until then to plant a fall crop.
Could you give me any advice where to turn for information about cover
crops in a similar situation, i.e., flood irrigating row crops? Thank you.
Tom Wikstrom
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