Big high carbon plants: Rye, sorghum, sudan, millets, corn. Mix them together and they do even better:Will be going on a forced march next year to increase soil organic matter. Looking for suggestions for forages with the greatest root mass. I am on sandy ground in Northern Michigan. Thanks.
Are you going no-till as part of this effort?Will be going on a forced march next year to increase soil organic matter. Looking for suggestions for forages with the greatest root mass. I am on sandy ground in Northern Michigan. Thanks.
I haven't, but I read that beets are picky about soil fertility. I wouldn't consider them as a monoculture. @MarkDarvin's post is pretty insightful. I like listening to the GreenCover Youtube channel, as they offer insight into different species and their value.Thanks for the replies. Has anyone grown mangel beets?
I have grown Mangels near Alpena, in bottom land, clay soil. Being a brassica type plant, they respond well to added fertilizer and result in very large, (a foot long and 6 inches in diameter), 5 pound tubers that deer love. They require some care to get started, then it's off to the races. With the drought conditions we have had here in Michigan, I would expect that Rye would be good for "set it and forget it... Buckwheat is also fantastic for soil building and I have grown that in sand, and then level it in fall to plant a brassica/wheat food plot.. Good luck... Enjoy...Thanks for the replies. Has anyone grown mangel beets?
Can you tell me when and how you planted the mangels? i would prefer not to plant as a monoculture. What were yur seeding rates?I have grown Mangels near Alpena, in bottom land, clay soil. Being a brassica type plant, they respond well to added fertilizer and result in very large, (a foot long and 6 inches in diameter), 5 pound tubers that deer love. They require some care to get started, then it's off to the races. With the drought conditions we have had here in Michigan, I would expect that Rye would be good for "set it and forget it... Buckwheat is also fantastic for soil building and I have grown that in sand, and then level it in fall to plant a brassica/wheat food plot.. Good luck... Enjoy...
Maybe min till. Possibly lightly scuffing the surface or using a chain harrow and cultipacker for seed to soil contact.Are you going no-till as part of this effort?
Mangels were planted in garden rows, around June 1 about 1/4 inch deep and very close to one another, then thinned for better growth and used as bait after maturity. Never tried random field plantings.Can you tell me when and how you planted the mangels? i would prefer not to plant as a monoculture. What were yur seeding rates?