I have a couple of questions regarding Winter Rye (Annual Rye).

First, Is there a difference between Winter and Annual Rye?

Secondly, I have heard that this should be planted in the fall. Is this true? What if it is planted in spring?

Thirdly, I have heard that it is good to plant Winter Rye first in a plot that you intend to plant clover in the following year. Why is that?

And lastly, can/should rye be used as a cover crop for clover?

As always, thanks for your "expert" advise! Spring is only 90 days away here in Vermont

. . . Rob

Yes winter rye is drank out of a shot glass and annual rye is drank on the rocks.

If you have enough empty bottles they should be able to cover any crop, although this is littering.


Sorry I thought this was a thread about Seagrams.

Winter/annual rye is the same thing.

Fall planted Rye offers a food source in the fall (deer will only eat Rye if its less than6-8" tall) its best when dormant.

You can spring plant rye - We do it sometimes to seed in with clover as a nurse crop - more often we use oats though. Spring planted Rye is not very attractive to deer - and offers no food source in the fall.

Rye can be hard to find oin the spring too.

well we have planted fall rye on a few occasions. It is planted in the fall and the rye grows up a few inches and then snow covers the crop and the crop remains dormant till spring. Now the deer are usually all over our fall rye crop pawing the snow up to get at the small shoots. Either fall rye of winter wheat can really hit the deer's taste buds over the cold winter months.

I have several 6 areas (between .25 and 1.5 acres) I would like to eventually plant clover. I was thinking about tilling them up this spring and planting rye, lime in the fall, then the following spring till again and put in the clover. I was under the impression that the residulals from the rye will be good for the clover the following year. Is this not correct?

If the rye is mowed in early fall will the deer be attracted to it again? Seems like there would be enough time for it to grow to the 6" to 8" range and be new shoots.

. . . Rob

Lime now! It takes time for the lime to bring the PH up. Plant the Rye and the Clover together. As the Rye grows taller, keep clipping it. the clippings will help the Clover, and the fresh growth will attract the deer. Like Farm hunter said, the rye is just a "nurse crop" for the clover. Don't waste a whole summer getting the Clover extablished.

Russ