Covercrop Question

I am battling chufa. It exudes chemicals that make it difficult for other plants to grow. I am trying to crowd it out and make lots and lots of biomass.

Last fall I broadcasted the following: kale, rye, hairy vetch, winter peas, and crimson clover. My garden is on a slight slope. A significant amount of seed was washed downhill in the fall rains, so the upper part of this area is sparse and the bottom is crowded. Also, the soil at the bottom started out better as it has had woodchips breaking down for the last couple years, so taller plants. About 9" at the top, 2 feet at the bottom.



I waited for the fall rains, which of course were 3 weeks late, my kale didn't like the late start. 50 miles west, the rain was on time. Sigh. The kale got about 2 inches tall and hibernated all winter. Come spring, they bolted before getting big enough to harvest any of it!

My spring-sown turnips are finally sprouting in some bare spots. I expect them to go to seed mid-summer.



I will be seeding amongst all this growth in hopes that they'll replace the crop from last fall. Here is my question. Do I need to mow it before I under sow? There will be popcorn, cowpeas, and amaranth.

Any other suggestions?

I would love to try and answer, but I perhaps misunderstand your goal.

Are you trying to replace Chufa?
Are you wanting to know if you should mow before sowing new seed?
Are you asking if the weeds are a problem?

Let me know what you are attempting to achieve and what the problem is and perhaps we can help.

All the best,

Okay. The first sentence above is now the link I intended if to be, to My Chufa Misadventures.

Chufa is a weed that is very much a problem for me.

The fall cover crop has begun the work of replacing chufa..  I would like to know if I should mow before seeding the summer cover crop, as the lower area is very thick with plants.

I assume that the fall crop would regrow with the new crop before it dies down. It would be replaced by the summer cover crop.

I personally would mow the tall plants and drop them at the top of the slope. Of course I mow with a scythe so I can be somewhat selective. I try to mow any undesirables before they make seed. and desirable after they make seed but before it is dispersed.   Then I move what I cut to where it needs more cover and seed. I have a problem with field daisies so I cut them at the soil level then later when vetch and alfalfa have set seed I cut them and cover that area. with them. My winters are also some times 7a or 7b or 8.