Cover crop basics for winter

Cover crops are a great option for late fall and early winter. Sometimes called green manures, cover crops help to protect your soil from issues like erosion and becoming too compact during times when it would normally just be sitting around fallow (unused). Better yet a good crop cover will additionally provide extra enrichment to your soil as it protect. Cover crops also keep out excess weeds.

Cool season cover crops are often sown in the fall – fava beans, annual rye grass and crimson clover are some common cover choices. Planting these means you intend to mow or til them NOT harvest in the spring. If you’re looking for a shorter term cover crop, say for warmer months, buckwheat is a good one because it’ll flower in about a month and at that point you can til it over.

One nice benefit of these basic crop covers is that they require little work. After your last crop has been harvested, turn or til your soil, then sprinkle your cover crop seeds over the area, rake slightly to settle the seeds, water, and you’re done. It’s an easy way to protect dormant soil and looks better too.

To learn more:

• More details about cover crops – including some info on interplanting cover crops with vegetables.
• More plants that work as covers plus a rotation chart.
• UC SAREP Cover Crop Database which includes over 5,000 items about cover crops from more than 600 separate sources.