The winter rye Bob planted in our garden as a cover crop last year is quite tall. It has formed seed heads and it would be fun to see if we could harvest some rye but that is not to be. Bob will cut it down and turn it under to help nourish the soil. Most years he would have already done the deed but this year he is a little slow, garden wise, and the rye is thriving.
The practice of planting a cover crop to improve the soil is an old one even if the name for the practice sounds trendy: rye, or any plant used in this way is called green manure. Last summer, as vegetables were harvested and the plants died, Bob planted the rye, watered it a few times and then left it to overwinter. Come spring the garden is a striped patchwork of green plants that grow and grow and grow.
Rye has an impressive root system so you'd think it would be hard to cultivate but the roots aerate and loosen the soil so it breaks up easier than bare ground would. Worms love it.
In the interest of full disclosure I should admit that the rye is not as high as an elephant's eye unless we are talking baby elephants but I liked the sound of the phrase. Please excuse my rye humor.
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