Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2021 - 26

Soil test to determine lime and fertilizer needs. For state specific
recommendations for planting dates, seeding dates and management
for cover crops, consult your local Extension office.
Types of summer Cover Crops: small Grains
SEEDING RATES AND DEPTHS
SORGHUM-SUDANGRASS: broadcast 50 to 60 lbs/A;
drill 45 to 50 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1½ in.)
SUDANGRASS: broadcast 40 to 50 lbs/A;
drill 35 to 40 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1 in.)
JAPANESE MILLET: broadcast 25 to 35 lbs/A;
drill 20 to 25 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1 in.)
GERMAN FOXTAIL MILLET: broadcast 30 to 40 lbs/A;
drill 25 to 30 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½-1 in.)
PEARL MILLET: broadcast 10-25 lbs/acre;
drill 5 to 15 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1 in.)
BUCKWHEAT: broadcast 50 to 100 lbs/A;
drill 30 to 90 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ in.)
Types of summer Cover Crops: leGumes
SEEDING RATES AND DEPTHS
COWPEAS: broadcast 70 to 120 lbs/A;
drill 40 to 50 lbs/A (seeding depth: 1- 1½ in.)
(USDA Cowpea lines 1136, 1137 and 1138 are soft seeded [i.e.,
typically will not reseed as volunteers the following season] and
nematode resistant; each plant covers 100 sq ft)
SESBANIA: broadcast 25 to 40 lbs/A;
drill 20 to 25 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1 in.)
SOYBEAN: broadcast 80 to 100 lbs/A;
drill 60 to 80 lbs/A (seeding depth: 1- 1½ in.)
SUNNHEMP: broadcast 30 to 40 lbs/A;
drill 25 to 35 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1 in.)
drill 60 lbs/A for no-till or for vegetable transplants
VELVETBEAN: broadcast 30 to 40 lbs/A;
drill 25 to 35 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1½ in.)
LAB LAB: broadcast 50 to 60 lbs/A;
drill 40 to 45 lbs/A (seeding depth: ½ - 1½ in.)
Winter Cover Crops
Choosing a grass cover crop is a little easier than choosing a legume.
Rye, triticale, barley, wheat, oats, and ryegrass can be planted
in the fall; expect to harvest or plow under anywhere from 1/2
ton to 4 tons of dry matter per acre. Soil test to determine lime and
fertilizer needs.
Types of WinTer Cover Crops: small Grains
RYE: Rye is probably used more as a winter cover than any other
grain. Rye can be sown from late September through mid-November.
Most ryes will grow well in the fall (even late fall) and in late
winter/early spring. This makes rye a top choice for farmers who
have late-season vegetable crops with little time left before winter
to sow a cover. Spring growth provides excellent biomass to turn
under for use in early potatoes, cole crops, etc. Rye also provides a
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forage source for grazing animals and a straw source if harvested
before mature seeds are formed or after rye seed harvest (typical
seeding rate: 60-120 lbs/A).
BARLEY: Barley provides an excellent source of biomass in the
spring. It grows shorter than rye, will tiller, and potentially produces
as much straw/forage/plow-down as rye. Barley takes longer to
catch up with equivalent rye biomass in the spring, and the possibility
of winter kill will be greater with barley. Late fall planting of
barley will often result in winter kill. Plant in September or early
October for greatest survival (typical seeding rate: 80-120 lbs/A
broadcast; 60-110 lbs/A drilled).
WHEAT: Using wheat as a cover crop works well and provides the
additional option of a grain harvest. Wheat can be seeded late September
through mid-November. Wheat produces biomass similar
to barley but will be a week or two later. It can be grazed before
turning under or harvested for grain and the straw removed. Problems
may occur if the Hessian fly is abundant, so choose another
small grain in areas where Hessian fly is present. (typical seeding
rate: 60-120 lbs/A)
OATS: Oats can be managed to provide many options for the cover
crop and good late spring biomass. Seeding spring oats during September
or October provides a good cover crop that will winter-kill
in the colder areas but may overwinter in warmer areas. It can
be grazed, made into excellent hay, or the grain harvested and oat
straw produced. Planting spring oats in the early fall can provide
good winter-killed mulch that could benefit perennial vegetables
or small fruits. Spring oats survive through some milder winters;
thus, herbicides may be necessary to kill spring oats in perennial
plantings (typical seeding rate: 80-120 lbs/A).
RYEGRASS: This grass has great potential use as a green manure
and as a forage/hay material, but ryegrass can potentially become a
difficult pest in some farm operations. In the mountain region, ryegrass
grows rather slowly in the fall and provides only moderate
winter erosion protection, but in late spring it produces an abundant
supply of biomass.
Grazing and spring hay from ryegrass can be excellent, and a
fine, extensive root system makes it a great source for plow-down.
(typical seeding rate: 5-10 lbs/A drilled; 15-30 lbs/A broadcast)
Italian ryegrass can be seeded and then bedder-disked for bare
ground or plasticulture. The remaining ryegrass will form a mulch
between the beds (typical seeding rate: 100 lbs/A).
TRITICALE: Triticale is a small grain resulting from a cross between
wheat and rye. Triticale has similar characteristics to wheat,
while the plant has the overall vigor and winter-hardiness of rye.
Fall planting of triticale should follow similar recommendations
as wheat, sowing 60 to 120 lbs/acre. Triticale biomass can exceed
wheat, thus plowing under or killing for no-till culture should occur
at an earlier time in the spring.
NOTES on SMALL GRAINS: Determine small grain fertilizer
and lime needs based on soil test results. Successful stand establishment
generally can be obtained with planting dates later
than those of legumes, even as late as early December in coastal
plain regions. This permits establishment of the cover crop after
late-fall-harvested crops such as sweetpotatoes. Remember, that
some soil erosion protection may be sacrificed with late seeding
2021 Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2021
