Make checks payable to Michigan State University, and be sure to specify language choice. The Purdue Hort. Extension office has copies of all four tapes and will be glad to loan one or more for you to evaluate their use in your operation. It is as important now as ever. For the full set of suggestions, contact Colleen and ask for a copy of the Cider Sanitation Suggestions.
Cover crops can be an integral part of the overall orchard floor management plan.
Growers planning on establishing new orchards or vineyards next year should consider a pre-plant soil management program which includes deep subsoiling, soil pH adjustment and addition of fertilizer, especially P and K, according to soil test recommendations, and planting cover crops. Cover cropping a site the year before planting is an excellent way to improve soil organic matter content and control weeds. Several cover crops are available for fall planting, and mid to late September is the time to plant in most areas of the state. A favorite among growers is winter rye because it performs very well under Indiana conditions. Rye not only adds large amounts of organic matter to the soil, but also suppresses the development of many annual and perennial weeds.