Orchard Renovation - Rebuild and Rejuvenate with Cover Crops!

Orchard renovation offers the chance to make some changes. More than just a chance to change varieties or whole crops, you have an opportunity to build soil organic matter and to reduce nematode numbers.

Let's take stock - what do we want to achieve with the cover crop? Build organic matter? Reduce nematode numbers? Or just cover the soil as cheaply as possible?

Getting Cover Crops Started

The key to getting the most benefit out of a cover crop is to grow as much biomass (top and roots) as possible, control weeds and ensure an even stand. To do this:

• It depends upon when you get the trees out but select a cover crop that makes sense for the growing season available; oats in October usually are usually not going to grow enough to make it worth the effort - switch to wheat or rye while sorghum sudan makes sense in late June and through early August but not once the calendar says September
  
• be aware of the fertility needs of the cover crop, species like oilseed radish and sorghum are good nitrogen scavengers but this also means that there needs to be some nitrogen available for the best cover crop growth
  
• use a drill to plant seed whenever possible, to get better seed placement both for soil moisture and seed distribution
  
• herbicide residues may reduce the stand or evenness of your cover crop

Cover Crop Seed Sources

Common cover crop species like rye, oats and wheat can usually be sourced through your local agricultural supplier. Less common species like oilseed radish may require a bit more research to find a supplier. The OMAFRA website features a cover crop seed supplier listing (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/resource/covercrp.htm). You can search either by supplier or by cover crop species. Farm publications also often have advertisements for cover crop seed. Take care when buying cover crop seed. Cheap seed isn't a bargain if it has low germination or introduces weeds. Buy good quality seed.