Fallowing Garden Soil?

[Bear1978]

Careful with chicken poop. Little goes a very long way. It’s easier to deal with if one uses last years chicken droppings that was piled and turned with compost

Yes. It will have been sitting for at least several months before I use it and I won’t use a lot. Thanks!

 

[Bear1978]

Alfalfa is great, any legume will do. I'm using a commercial mix, but I'm covering acres and improving sandy clay loam soil at the same time - my mix is mostly clover, plus winter/field peas, hairy vetch, daikon, common radish, some mustards and some grains. Its very forgiving of soil variations, due to the variety - which isn't something you need to concern yourself with, but is of major importance to me. The chickens seem to enjoy it, so will the goats when I finally have some.

$10 will get you a 1/2lb at Amazon, $15 will get a full pound of a similar mix. I buy in 50# bags at a MUCH better price point per pound - those prices are like trying to plant commercially with those seed packets from the big box stores.

Locally, most of the farmers use rapeseed in their cotton fields, which is a brassica (a "mustard") - that would work for you too, just make sure you till it in before it goes to seed.

and of course, Alfalfa is spectacular.

Basically, whatever you can get that's cheap. Even annual winter rye, if you are desperate and there are no alternatives.

Ok thanks!

 

[21hens-incharge]

In spring I am going to plant buckwheat between my rows/beds. I am also going to be growing A LOT of spring peas as a nitrogen fixer in the garden. I cut the plants off when they are done/ready/or I need that section for the next crop. Running them over with the mower and spreading them over the garden seems to speed their decomposition further helping the garden.

Because I have trellises in the garden I drag the plants to a grass area for the mower treatment.