The Visual Appeal of Cover Crops

     Cover crops are helpful in the garden for a variety of reasons: they add nutrients, break up compacted soil, add organic matter, and keep weeds at bay.  However, for vegetable gardeners who started their gardening lives as landscape gardeners, they serve an even more important role: they keep gardens looking lush.  A cover crop planted as soon as each vegetable is harvested helps avoid vast brown areas in the garden as the season draws to an end, extending it's summer beauty into fall.  Gardens that would otherwise look dull and depressing display color, texture, and fresh spring colors.  The different cover crop heights, due to planting that takes place over a period of a month or so, add appealing height variations.  The fresh green growth contrasts with the darker pepper, cabbage, and leek plants.  It doesn't hurt to let the nasturtiums, marigolds, and cosmos, planted earlier for pest control, grow wild throughout the cover crops, adding splashes of yellows, oranges and lavender.  In the fall, as cover crops do the hard labor of preparing the garden for spring planting, they also transform vegetable gardens from late season eyesores into landscape assets. 

Cornell's Garden Soil Testing

     A fall chore that's definitely worth the time and the minimal expense ($15) is testing the soil in my vegetable garden. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Millbrook, just a half hour drive from Pawling, offers this valuable service to gardeners on a "walk-in" basis. Soil samples are sent to Cornell's Agricultural department in Ithaca, which tests the soil's chemical composition, and, within a few weeks, e-mails a complete soil analysis. The detailed report shows levels of important nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium); measures pH; determines organic matter percentage; and makes suggestions for needed amendments (lime and fertilizers) to maximize soil productivity. 

      On Tuesday, when my garden was dry, I took sample of my garden soil by scraping the top 6 inches of soil to the side; scooping a small amount of soil into bucket; and replacing the top layer. I repeated this in four more areas of the garden—in order to collect a representative sample; then mixed the soil, and placed two cups of this soil into a plastic bag.

      Today, I drove the scenic back roads (routes 82 and 44) off route 55 to deliver my soil sample.  (For those who live outside the Dutchess area, there are dozens of other Extension offices throughout New York State.  Soil samples can also sent directly to Agro-One for testing using a soil submission form.)

      In a few weeks, when my report arrives, I'll add the suggested amendments in organic form, giving them plenty of time to work their magic on my soil before planting my Spring vegetables.