Planting cover crops

 

 

Once you’ve finished cleaning up your vegetable beds, it’s time to consider planting a cover crop. Cover crops, sometimes called “green manure” crops, are planted to improve soil fertility and to increase organic material in your garden. Some common cover crops include

Winter Rye, Annual Rye,

Buckwheat,

Oats and Clover. Cover crops are generally sown in the fall, but can also be planted in the spring and summer as fill-in crops next to your vegetables. Begin by raking the soil in the area you intend to plant. Plan to use about a pound of seed per 100 square feet of the garden space you intend to cover. Next, sow your cover crop by broadcasting the seed evenly across the area and then cover the seed lightly with Top Soil or

Sheep, Peat and Compost. Finish seeding by watering in the seed. Keep the soil evenly moist until you see the seedlings emerge. Cover crops are low-maintenance. You don’t have to water after that.

You’ll dig or till the cover crop under come spring, adding green matter and Nitrogen to your soil. We have cover crops in

bulk

and pre-packaged for your convenience. Stop in. We’ll help you choose which cover crop is right for you.