The Growing Journal

Mid March I planted about 800 sq ft of landscape bed (tree, shrubs and mulch) with oil seed radish also called fodder radish.  I used the variety Adios.  The object of the planting was to 1) use the extrodinary amount of top growth produced by the species to outcompete spring and summer annual weeds and to 2) provide green living mulch cover that could replace the energy of using shredded mulch.  Prior to planting soil fertility was increased with a broadcast application of 3/4 lb. of N, 1/2 lb. of P and 1/2 lb, of K – per 1000 sq.ft.  The seed was broadcast sowed and “walked-in” for soil contact.  Rainfall has been scarce since the planting so I’ve supplemented a couple times with hose and water-wand irrigation.  Target weeds include Hairy bittercress, Corn speedwell, Purple dead nettle and Sow thistle.  Germination of a few seeds took place about a week later but is now coming on strong with warming temperatures and continuned but infrequent irrigation.  This will be one of several plant observation studies I’ll use in variety of locales this spring and fall to consider the use of plants from the Brassica family along with manay other cover crops for the strategic purpose of controlling weeds in landscape plantings.  The long term goal is to model a plan to reduce / eliminate both pre- and post- emergence herbicides in the landscape.