Cover Crops—Transitioning into Summer

Crimson Clover

Within the next month or so, many of our spring/summer crops will be finished   Tomatoes won’t bloom and set fruit when it’s over 90 degrees   The green beans are pretty much done   It’s too hot to plant most new crops—they will succumb to the heat and humidity.

It’s a good idea to drop green beans in place, leaving the roots in the ground   Let them decompose in place to nourish the next crop and add organic matter to your soil.   Cut tomatoes at ground level and throw them away   They’re too likely to harbor pests and diseases that may live in the soil   Compost healthy squash leaves and vines   Do this before fading crops attract more bugs and diseases.

What to plant now?  Okra works,  and field peas and sweet potatoes act as cover crops and produce a harvest of delicious and nutritious fall edibles.   

Front, field peas; middle, sweet potatoes; rear, okra—mid July

Fall crops may not take as much space so fall cover crops are a good option for any open beds   The recent article about research being done in West Florida on fall cover crops was written for farmers, but is just as interesting and advantageous for gardeners  What are we but farmers, just on a smaller scale   Read the article and begin now to plan your fall/winter cover crops   

Cover Crops and Soil Health: Building Resilience in Panhandle Crop Fields