You sure are on the right track -with the no tilling...<br>I wouldn&#39;t chop them -just push them down under a thick layer of mulch (straw and/or fine wood chips).&nbsp; Favas break down very quickly, fix nitrogen in the soil (when needed) -and don&#39;t forget the flowers are delicious too!&nbsp; I would also spare a patch to let them mature into fat beans -to eat -and save some to plant later.<br>
<br>Because your new plant roots and the bacteria that breaks down the &quot;green manure&quot; (in this case the favas) and mulch into rich soil -both use nitrogen -some people do wait a week or two before planting... -if you were to add even a little prepared compost/aged manure with your seeds and seedlings -the perceived competition for nutrient shouldn&#39;t be long or have much impact at all...<br>
<br>I would try planting some right away -but in one and two weeks from now, it won&#39;t be too late to plant anyway...<br><br>good luck<br><br>Larry<br><a href="http://www.earthflow.com">www.earthflow.com</a><br><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 8:51 AM, Michael and Trish Hernandez &lt;<a href="mailto:crazymiles@earthlink.net">crazymiles@earthlink.net</a>&gt; wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div style="">Fava Beans with out rototilling. Our garden is covered with a gorgeous winter cover crop. What&#39;s the best way to chop and drop the beans without rototilling? Chop then, then cover them with more mulch? How much of the root needs to be tilled back into the soil? I&#39;ve read that we need to mulch the beans and let them the area sit for 2 weeks before planting, which is now! Would love some feedback.<br>
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