0. Get a soil test now 1. All right 2. Don't water anymore. Just let it die. 3. All right 4. Mow as low as you can. Rake it up but it isn't necessary to remove what's in the ground. 5. All right 5a. Cover with 1/4 inch peat moss or compost. That works out to be 1 cubic yard/1000 sq.ft. 6. All right 7. All right 8. Baby the seeds and seedlings and stay off the grass.

I suggest slit seeding then topdress. I use a thin coating of peat moss to protect the seed. You can start using organics next summer to add organic matter to the soil. If you do not have bare soil showing, Bag mow at 1". Adjust the verticutter (fixed blade slitseeder) to just above soil height and do a run. (just as good as using a detatcher). Follow by bag mowing at 1" again or leafrake the dead matter. Broadcast spread seed. Reset the verticutter (slitseeder) at 1/8- 1/4" depth and ,make two passes )second at 45 degree angle to first pass). Roll lawn (optional but recommended). Spread thin layer of topdressing (just enough to cover any bare seed) Apply a starter fertilizer at 1/2 suggested bag rate. Keep soil damp (2-3 light waterings daily.) Once majority of seed germinates, water twice a week at 1/2" water per applicaton. Apply second application of starter fertilizer. After third mowing adjust watering to once a week at 1" (rain and watering total). Between late October to late November add winterizer fertilizer. Next Spring apply pre-emergent. then organics monthly as you can afford until late August then synthectics Sept, Oct. and Nov.

The amount of OM on any cover crop is quite small anyway, it will make no difference for the brassica, but if you are so inclined, add the manure at the last minute before turning the soil. As a matter of fact that is usually what I do.

Hi there, I am a newbie also as far as growing flowers for market is concerned. We just started late this spring and are beginning small. But, I am in zone 5 too and can tell you some of our plans/thoughts. I am starting perennials from seed, now. This is experimental for us. If anyone has input, I'd be glad to hear it on this subject also! We do not want to spend the extra money on plugs, and since seed is relatively inexpensive, we think this is worth a try. RIght now I have more time than money. :) We are starting seeds of campanula, lobelia, baby's breath, poppy, yarrow, globe echinops, swt williams, etc. and hope to have plants to go into the field by early fall. We are also trying out rooting perennial phlox and monarda. With some luck (or whatever!) they will survive winter and be nice plants next spring with some flowering. Be SURE you are planting varieties good for cutting though! If you have the extra cash available and your hoop house is up and working, you might want to look into delphinium and lisianthus plugs from some place like Gro N Sell or Germania. If we had a hoop house, that is what I'd do early in the spring and you should have flowers by June. We are preparing spots now for peonies to be planted in the fall. You should also be able to plant other woody ornamentals this fall. We are starting cuttings of hydrangeas and willow to plant in the field as summer comes to an end. Supposedly in zone 5 you can fall sow some annuals that withstand the cold temps. This is mentioned in both "The Flower Farmer" and "Specialty Cut Flowers" We will be trying 2-4 100ft rows of fall sown larkspur (depending on how optimistic and energetic we are!) and perhaps bupleurum (never grown this stuff, but seems popular). Yes, I think you can get your soil ready for planting this fall. I would suggest you contact a local county extension office for how to ammend your soil. Having a good idea of what you'd like to plant will help them. I do think an acre on your own is ambitious, but that doesn't mean it is too ambitious. =) There are so many contributing factors: weather, weeds, access to soil ammendments, timing, etc. that I think you do need to just get started and see how it goes. We are two people doing the flower farming part time, and we decided on half an acre next year. Part of our concern over doing more is having more flowers than we can cut and market. Hopefully we all find our balance eventually. :) We are finding weed control to be a major problem in the few rows we tilled this year. Much of our time is spent weeding and mulching..and boy is it hot and humid. Good Luck! Keep up posted!