Hmmm..that does sound like a good plant. For the fall bed I'm preparing I went to the mexican store and got a bag of pinto beans for a couple of bucks. Then when I turn it under I'll add the compost that's been cooking in a corner of the yard. Finally I'll go to the horse farm up the road and get a bunch of composted stable sweepings and us it as mulch. That's plenty of nitrogen for veggies or you'll get all leaves and not much fruit.
Biggest mistake I've made was laziness, I've let the pintos produce seed and now I have to go pick it all and shell it so it doesn't grow later! :) But hey - If I truly need to be self sufficient I can't be running to the latin market every year for pinto seeds so I guess that is a lesson in disguise.

Let me know how the sun hemp works out. I like the pretty yellow flowers.

It seems to have a number of positives, but have you seen info like this??

"...Status
As of 2005, Arkansas considered the genus Crotalaria as a noxious weed. Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant�s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Weediness
This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov. Please consult the Related Web Sites on the Plant Profile for this species for further information...."

You should do well with your nice soil. What is the purpose of your cover crop? To add nitrogen? Push out nematodes? To eat? This would make a difference as to what you would plant I guess.

The general times to plants regular veggies can be found at link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Planting times

Sherry
Your sunn hemp growing should be interesting, keep us posted with photos. It grows rapidly to 7' and might look like a field of marijuana to the untrained eye. Now there's a barter crop lol.

Denise

tinael01 and carolb, when using it as a cover crop, this plant is supposed to be turned over before it flowers so I would imagine that would prevent it from going to seed and becoming a rampant weed. I did read that noxious weed warning, so I will be diligent about the timing.

Amber, for the nitrogen and nematode deterrence. I guess some of the legumes can be eaten, but they didn't seem to offer much help with the nematodes. I don't know if I have them, but it can't hurt, right? Thanks for the link. I already printed it. :))

Denise, LOL about your barter crop suggestion. I will definitely take photos. I believe I read that the plants will be about 3' tall when I turn them over. If you wait longer their stalks get very thick and hard.

One option for turning the plants is a tiller, but I've read that that isn't good for the soil. Anyone have any opinions re using a tiller or hand-turning with a shovel? How deep does the bio-mass have to go?

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Anyone have any opinions re using a tiller or hand-turning with a shovel? How deep does the bio-mass have to go?

You could experiment. I grew some tall Asian greens that I decided to try no-till treatment on. I quit watering them, they died and dried up. I just let them stay in place and wilt (they were about 4' tall) and after a while I pushed them down and kind of walked on them to get them in contact with the ground.

The ground is now nice and fluffy and I just planted a rose in that area which is doing very well.

No-till is not tidy however and I know your garden is nice and orderly. If it's in a non-public area though I think it's a nice practice and earth friendly.

Denise

I have ordered the Sunn Hemp seeds (and the innoculant) and watched several videos on You-Tube that were very helpful. It really sounds like an excellent choice for green manure in Florida. I also learned about no-tilling, Denise. I'm hoping I have so much bio-mass that I'll have extra to put under the roses.

Here's a link to an informative video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG_CYsVmqN4

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

I no-tilled over a patch of fl broadleaf mustard by covering with newspaper and a light layer of pine fines.

Dianne

I have a cover crop of Black Eyed peas, which will be harvested & enjoyed. When they are finished producing, the plants will be mowed down & left where they fall. I already have hay between the rows to keep down weeds. To plant the fall garden, I just pull the mulch aside and plant. It is very easy to pull the few weeds that manage to pop up. More hay will be used on top of all this when new plants are in the ground. Just keep piling the mulch on and the soil becomes very rich.

Dianne & Happy Girl, thanks for sharing your experience. I'll use this Sunn Hemp the first time for its nematode resistance and then in subsequent rotations I can use other legumes that are edible. I hadn't thought of that.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

Like Happy Girl,I use black eyed peas as a cover crop.They are one of the few crops that love the summer heat & are a very versatile veggie.I harvest the very young leaves & use them in place of lettuce,then young pods are used like snap beans & finally the dried seeds are used for next session of planting & also as dried peas for soups/casseroles etc.I also just cut the plants when I'm done with them,leaving the roots in place & let the tops become mulch.