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Is it too late to plant Hairy Vetch groundcover?
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Posted by MaineMan z5a ME (My Page) on Tue, Nov 2, 04 at 1:30
| Hi All,
I notice some "volunteer" Hairy Vetch plants around the place are doing nicely. I don't want to plant Winter Rye because I have heard it is one of those plants that generates natural growth inhibitors for its competition, and because my previous experience with it in Fort Worth was that it is hard to till under in the Spring.
I am wondering that if, at this time in November, I sowed some Hairy Vetch in our Maine garden (near Augusta) whether it could be expected to germinate and grow as a Winter groundcover. I also have some misgivings about Hairy Vetch as a potential weed, but I think I could keep it under control.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is too late to start a groundcover of Hairy Vetch, or possibly of anything, but I would like to get some opinions on that.
MM |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is it too late to plant Hairy Vetch groundcover?
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| Hi MM. I am thinking it would need a couple months in warm soil with high sun to germinate & establish, which is why it's usually not planted after August. As far as controlling it, I pull off the blossoms and throw them away in the garbage before seeding. I got rid of all mine that way, and I didn't even really want to. |
RE: Is it too late to plant Hairy Vetch groundcover?
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| Kathy, "I am thinking it would need a couple months in warm soil with high sun to germinate & establish, which is why it's usually not planted after August." That confirms my suspicions. Thanks for the tip about pulling off the blossoms. I'll try to get an earlier start on my winter groundcovers next year. This year I guess it will be a combination of wood ashes and wood chips. MM |
RE: Is it too late to plant Hairy Vetch groundcover?
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| MM, I found your question through a search. I (obviously) don't live in Maine, but I planted hairy vetch here in Michigan on October 18 or so. It has sprouted and is growing nicely. We have not had frost yet, but I grew it last year also, and it survived a typical Michigan winter and continued growing fine in the spring. It definitely will grow in cold soil. I guess it's like peas, it doesn't mind the cold and damp. When I was ready to plant in the spring, I chopped it to the ground with a weed wacker and turned under what was left. Had my best garden yet this summer. It didn't spread or become invasive in any way. In fact, it choked out most other weeds. I was very pleased with it. |
RE: Is it too late to plant Hairy Vetch groundcover?
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| Ive seen some plants in bloom until Janualry in Maine, and then the freeze does set in, however this can happen as early as this time now....so if you can afford the risk- why not? I use seaweed myself, which reminds me....I better get busy before its too late! No snow here last night- despite forecasts of possibilities there of. :) Stay warm Cheers- Gggg |
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