S5/E1 Rolling Rye Grass, Prep for Pumpkin Planting

The pumpkin planting season begins for our farm in late May! We prepare the fields for planting by bending or "rolling" down the winter rye grass that provided a cover crop to protect the soils during several months prior. This provides a dense vegetative mat to prevent weeds from competing with the pumpkins as they grow, and when the pumpkins begin to mature on the spreading vines, they are not sitting in the soil and getting dirty. When the harvest is complete in October, all the vegetative matter of winter rye, and pumpkin vines, are turned back into the soil to provide nutrients. All in keeping with our farm credo: "Be Good To The Land And The Land Will Be Good To You".

[@colesmith5562]

Hey there, great video but would love to see the next step as to how one actually plants into the cover crop.

[@anndrake492]

That’s really lovely! Best wishes!

[@JonesFamilyFarms]

Many thanks!

[@NCharlesworth86]

Hell yeah

[@samtidwell3439]

How did you plant into that?

[@brianwitgen420]

Do you spray glyphosate it before rolling?

[@mcgarvsminihomestead7684]

What type of planter are you using to plant your pumpkins in the rye mulch? TIA

[@Spiked2005]

Can you control down pressure with that type of tractor or is the crimper filled with water?

[@JonesFamilyFarms]

Hydraulic hitch can push down some, but really the weight of the steel attachment is enough to do the job. - Farmer Tom.