I will elaborate on the Ed Spinnazola reco. This was for building up sandy acid soil. I qualify. Basically planting buckwheat followed later by cereal rye and rape as an indicator of soil health. Continue that with amendments until the brassica shows good growth. The spring broadcast of rape was to build OM before the buckwheat planting, then rye and brassica to follow.
In my neck of the woods, early planting of rape and turnips got demolished early. Getting something to grow and build OM was a problem.
When I started fall planting wheat and cereal rye, I started to make some progress. I love having green rye before spring green up. I have read that March up here is the toughest month for deer following winter.
In one field, I let the rye grow as I was removing trees from that field. Good growth and kept the ground covered.
Since I am not a Roundup guy, a thick stand of rye does a good job keeping weeds down. Buckwheat is supposed to do that also. But for me, buckwheat gets hit hard.
Since I have sandy soil, I have not had great success frost seeding. Without spraying, weeds are a problem.
It has been recommended elsewhere and this has been successful for me. Fall planted rye grain and clovers. The rye as a cover helps the clover establish and is ready to go in the spring. The green rye is already there. Later I overseed clovers (broadcast), then mow or roll the rye.
This past winter, I put out some alfalfa bales for carryover after hunting season, January 18. Within one month, those bales got demolished. So I need to grow more food to sustain the deer. So far, I have tried the finicky alfalfa, but that has been hit too hard. I need to grow some bulbs to help out.
For all those considering alfalfa, alfalfa can not be overseeded after one year because of autotoxicity. Anyone who has been successful with alfalfa, I am all ears.
