Timing Rye Cover Crop Incorporation for Vegetable Beds

A gardener planted annual rye as a green manure in raised beds and asked when to till it under for nitrogen benefit, with planting set for late April. The expert advised: mow two weeks before planting, then till in one week before planting. This allows decomposition to begin without tying up nitrogen during early crop growth.

Rye produces substantial biomass; chopping it finely speeds breakdown. If rye is flowering, it's higher in carbon and will decompose slower—consider adding nitrogen fertilizer to compensate.

Schedule:

• Mid-April: Mow rye.
• Late April: Till in.
• Early May: Plant vegetables.

Green manures build organic matter and suppress weeds—worth the effort.