Cover Crops

Now is the time to start planting cover crops for winter.
We use a lot of rye and clover along with some wheat and occassionally vetch for over wintering and plant Buckwheat and oats in unused areas in the summer.

The rye etc is used because it can overwinter in all but the coldest conditions (think zones 1 and 2). Buckwheat and oats are not cold hardy but grow fast so they are good for summer covers at least in zones 6 to 3.

For those who do not know a cover crop is any crop planted to be either mowed or turned under, before it goes to seed, for it's green manure thus adding organic matter to the soil. The crops also keep erosion at bay by covering the soil and they also add quite a bit of weed control by outcompeting the weeds. If managed incorrectly a cover crop will become a weed problem itself but with correct management it will do wonders to your soil.

I use buckwheat and have had great results

Paul

I have only ever cover cropped with buckwheat in summer and with rye in fall. I'm intested in the what/how/when of cover cropping from those who use it extensively.
Thanks for sharing Paul and OO
Scott