@Crabtreestreehouse, i have bought a companion mix, basically it works synergetic with the soil, besides providing a layer of humidity retention, so the soil does not get dry. It helps fixate the nitrogen, oxygenate the soil and amplify the living matter as well. The mix contains the following seeds mixed:
Common Vetch, Rye, Ukrainian Oats, Black Oats, Forage Turnip, Crambe, Buckwheat
In the technique i'm using i'm keeping them alive thru out the cycle and cropping gradually the top as they stretch, so shaving them gradually, there are those that crop them once a month and replant, and you can plant them, 15 days or so before moving your main culture to the vase, so they become a top layer and are reabsorbed to the soil, and then you replant the mix.
They tend to stretch a lot and fast, so your main culture have to be in a strong fashion so it is not covered by the cover mix, hope this makes sense.
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