One Morning in May

And a fine morning it was! It was supposed to drop down into the mid-30's last night but I don't think it could've since it was near 50 this morning. It will apparently drop down into the 30's again this evening, but then the lows will be in the 40's and finally 50's by the end of the week. Here is the forecast from Wunderground:

Today is the observed Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker. He did a lot of manual labor too, so good St. Joseph, please ask God to bless our efforts in the garden! I am sure Our Lady did some gardening as well, and she must have had quite a green thumb. Dear Blessed Mother, please ask God to give us a good and healthy crop this year, Who fed the Israelites with manna from heaven!

The soil is still pretty chilly so it's not yet time to plant the warm-weather crops. Hopefully sometime today I will be able to sow the Spring Cover Crops. The package came a few days ago. Here are the descriptions of the types I have:

Spring Barley – Hordeum vulgare, 2-3’ HA “Spring planted, rapidly maturing, cereal suppresses weeds, prevents erosion, scavenges nutrients, adds organic matter and loosens topsoil. Incorporate before seed head emergence for rapid decomposition in time for warm weather crops. (1 to 2-1/2 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.)”

Bell Beans – Vicia fava, 3-6’ HA “Small-seeded fava bean rapidly builds biomass and fixes nitrogen. Sown early- to mid-fall for spring cutting in Mediterranean climates, early spring for late summer cutting in continental climates. Loosens soils, and attracts beneficials upon flowering. Commonly mixed with vetch and oats or rye. (2-1/2 to 4 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.)”

Medium Red Clover – Trifolium pratense 1-2’ HB “Vigorous extremely adaptable legume loosens subsoil, releases phosphorus and potassium, suppresses weeds, hosts beneficials and is a good forage. Sow as a biennial mid-spring and incorporate 18 months to 2 years later in the North. Mow at early bloom to stimulate new growth. Use as a winter annual in the south. (1/4 to 1/2 lb./1,000 sq. ft.)

Spring Oats – Avena sativa 2-3’ HA “Upright, robust cereal grain thrives in cool, moist conditions on well drained soils but winter-kills in cold climates. Sow early- to mid-spring with field peas, or early fall with crimson clover or vetch. Quick, reliable cover suppresses weeds and loosens topsoil. Mow and incorporate, harvest for compost, or leave in place and plant into stubble. (2-3 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.)”

Speckled Field Peas – Pisum sativum 2-3’ HA “Similar to Austrian Winter Pea, but taller, producing more biomass. Young tendrils prior to flowering are particularly sweet when eaten raw or lightly stir-fried. Sow early- to mid-spring, incorporate late summer/ early fall. (2-4 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.)”

Yellow Blossom Sweetclover – Melilotus officinalis 4-7’ HB “Fast growing legume with deep taproot aerates both top- and subsoil, releases phosphorus and potassium, and attracts beneficials. More biomass than other legumes. Drought tolerant once established. Sow mid-spring, incorporate about 14 mos. later. Works well on marginal ground. (1/4 to 1/2 lb. / 1,000 sq. ft.)”

Spring Triticale – Triticum durum x Secale cerale 3-5’ HA “Wheat-rye cross combines winter-hardiness of rye and baking qualities of wheat. Sow early to mid-spring for weed suppression, organic matter, and soil conditioning. Cut/ incorporate late summer. (2-3 lbs./ 1,000 sq. ft.)”


This beautiful morning: