Cover Crops and Crop Rotation Focus of Briggs Ave. Garden Program, Aug. 16

Cover crops of crimson clover and brundage wheat were planted
 early July in this gardening plot at the Briggs Ave. Community Garden.
Photo by Leanna Murphy Duno.

What's a great way to make your vegetable garden plot more nitrogen-rich (without fertilizer) during the off season? Plant a cover crop! 

Durham  County Extension Master Gardener Leanna Murphy Dono will be leading a class on “Cover Crops and Crop Rotation” to help gardeners learn about planting fall/winter cover crops (like clovers and legumes) that help soil recover nutrients, improve soil structure and prevent weeds when not planted in vegetable crops. The program will be held outdoors Sat., Aug. 16 from 10-11 a.m. at the Briggs Ave. Community Garden. Alternate rain location will be the Durham County Extension Office, 721 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701.

During the class, participants will examine some cover crops growing in the garden now and look at how plants are turned over/break down. You’ll learn about the benefits of planting buckwheat, rye, crimson clover, cow peas and more and the timing of planting in the rotation (spring vs. summer.)

The Cooperative Extension Office has purchased enough cover crop seed that all the Briggs plot owners who attend will be able to put in a cover crop who’d like to for a hands-on planting demo.

This class is free and open to the public.
To register, please call Pana Jones at 919-560-0525 or email: prjones2@ncsu.edu.