Wow, thanks for that Steve. This is exactly the lines I am working on at the moment, but I think this is a bit advanced for someone who is coming from a very conventional start point. The idea of a main crop with “companions” could work. I also have to think about what machinery is available, for example I don’t think he can plant through too much residue. I hope we can rig up something that can pour some compost tea into the furrows while planting. Thanks again for your continual contribution.

I am presently looking for winter hard companions for cereal rye which I crimp as a mulch for squashes, courgettes, corn, beans, tomatoes, etc. The companions need to flower all at the same time as the rye, so that they will be killed by crimped middle-end May. At the moment I am thinking winter rye, winter peas, cornflowers and winter rape, (plus crimson clover which will either be mulched out or, hopefully, grow back as an understory for the squashes!) This would fulfil Christine Jones criteria of four functional groups. Planting time is mid-September. Winter vetch didn’t work for me, it flowered too late, survived crimping and was a problem! Perhaps I need to do a seperate post on this subject…

I thought this could be a good start, athough we would probably make silage and then rototill rather than crimp.