Cover Crops Benefit your Garden in Many Ways

  

Cover crops are planted to improve soil structure, soil fertility and to protect the living portion of your soil, including micro-organisms. Cover crops have an influence on living components of your soil through the winter. If you’ve left a portion of your garden fallow for some period, you’ll discover there’s not of life left in the soil. Most of the earthworms have disappeared, as well as the beneficial micro-organisms necessary to make your soil work effectively with your crops.   

Cover crops generally fall into two categories: Non-Legume and Legume.  Non-Legume cover crops produce a large amount of biomass.  Biomass is plant material, including roots, stems, and leaves. Non-Legume crops include winter rye, oats, buckwheat, and annual rye and will add organic material to the soil when turned over in the spring.  

Crimson Clover, Red Clover and Hairy Vetch are Legume cover crops. Planted now, they will protect the soil, build some biomass and help fix Nitrogen.  It should be noted; the fixed Nitrogen becomes available once they are turned into the soil and begin to decompose.   

  

Crimson Clover is a nitrogen-fixing crop that grows best in cool weather making fall an ideal time to plant it. It will tolerate some shade so you can plant it among tall plants such as tomatoes. Crimson Clover can also be used to fill in spaces in flower beds. Hairy Vetch is a fast-growing cover crop that biodegrades quickly once it’s turned under in the spring.  

Cover crops can be sown directly into your raised bed or garden anytime in late fall. Prepare the planting site by removing any remaining vegetable plants, weeds, and mulch.  

Loosen the soil with a garden fork, then rake smooth with a bow rake. Next, broadcast the seed over the area, cover the seed lightly with compost and keep the area moist until the cover crop seed germinates, usually within two weeks.  

To sow a cover crop while vegetable crops are still producing, start by removing any mulch from around plants. This will ensure good seed-to-soil contact.  Broadcast the seed evenly along the row and cover with compost. This will give the cover crop a good start but will not interfere with existing vegetable plant growth. 

Cover crops are well suited for all gardens, regardless of size. They provide cover and stability for your soil through the winter months and help improve soil structure and vitality for the spring and summer garden. 

 

 y, Septembe