Cover Crop Uses

Uses Seed

Farm seed is a large assortment of beneficial crops that are used commonly amongst farmers and gardeners. Most commonly these crops help increase Nitrogen fixation, suppress weeds, attract bees, add organic matter, forage benefits, and provide no till foliage. These methods of farming have been becoming increasingly popular as organic farming methods have seen a resurgence. Not only are these crops beneficial to the farmer but they put less burden on the environment.

How to Plant:Till ground before planting. Then firm ground to make flat. Use a seed broadcaster to spread seed evenly over the ground. Next flatten ground again to secure seeds into soil.How to Plant:Till ground before planting. Then firm ground to make flat. Use a seed broadcaster to spread seed evenly over the ground. Next flatten ground again to secure seeds into soil.Seeding Rates:Sowing SeasonSeeding DepthSeeding Rate (1,000 Sq. Ft.)Seeding Rate (1 Acre)AmaranthSpring & Summer1/4 - 1/2"1 lb.15-25 lbs.BarleySpring & Summer3/4 - 2"2 lbs.75-125  lbs.BuckwheatSpring & Summer1/2 - 1 1/2"2-3  lbs.50-100 lbs.MilletSummer1/2 - 1"1/4 lb.6-10 lbs.OatsSpring & Summer1/2 - 1 1/2"4 lbs.100-150 lbs.Rye, WinterAnytime3/4 - 2"4 lbs.75-125 lbs.RyegrassAnytime0 - 1/2"1 lb.25-50 lbs.SudangrassSpring & Summer1/4 - 1/2"1-2 lbs.35-65 lbs.WheatSpring1/2 - 1 1/2"4 lbs75-150 lbs.Sowing SeasonSeeding DepthSeeding Rate (1,000 Sq. Ft.)Seeding Rate (1 Acre)AmaranthSpring & Summer1/4 - 1/2"1 lb.15-25 lbs.BarleySpring & Summer3/4 - 2"2 lbs.75-125  lbs.BuckwheatSpring & Summer1/2 - 1 1/2"2-3  lbs.50-100 lbs.MilletSummer1/2 - 1"1/4 lb.6-10 lbs.OatsSpring & Summer1/2 - 1 1/2"4 lbs.100-150 lbs.Rye, WinterAnytime3/4 - 2"4 lbs.75-125 lbs.RyegrassAnytime0 - 1/2"1 lb.25-50 lbs.SudangrassSpring & Summer1/4 - 1/2"1-2 lbs.35-65 lbs.WheatSpring1/2 - 1 1/2"4 lbs75-150 lbs.Cover Crop Calculator:Calculate the amount of cover crop neededCover Crop Calculator:Calculate the amount of cover crop needed1 Acre = 43,560 square feet, or 435'x100'Weight Conversion:1 Pound = 16 Ounces

The Jerry Oats is a grain that is a quick growing green manure that will kill off any winter weeds and will hold soil with a mat of vegetation! This high yielding oat can produce over 100 bushels per acre. This grain variety is great for garlic beds and other vegetables. The oats stay green into November and form a mulched bed for spring planting. The Jerry Oats are also great for underseeding with a legume. Uses: Erosion prevention, Green Manure, Nitrogen Scavenger, No Till, Organic Matter, Weed Suppresion

The Elbon Rye is a grain that is the best choice for fast, cool-season germination that prevents erosion and builds organic matter in the soil! Plant this variety early to late fall; in mild climates fall through early spring. This grain captures soil nutrients in the fall to release in spring when worked into the soil. The Elbon Rye can reach up to 5 feet! Cereal Rye (Secale cereale L.): Cool season, grass, Annual or perennial, Upright plant growth, Crude protein: straw 4%, grain 14%, C:N ratio: 40-48, Self pollinator (wind) Uses: Erosion Control, Green Manure, Nitrogen Scavenger, No Till, Organic Matter (Biomass), Weed suppression

Using the Field Peas and Oats Blend throughout your garden is a great way to fix nitrogen and add organic matter to the soil! This blend contains a great ratio of grass and legume cover crop for fixing nitrogen, winter cover, weed suppression and more. The Field Peas and Oats Blend should be sown from early spring to late summer. Sow no later than 6 weeks before first fall frost in your area. This variety is gold hardy enough to grow long into the fall leaving behind a great mulch for soil protection. (75% peas / 25% oats by weight) Seed Coverage: - 5 lbs covers 2,000-4,000 sqaure feet - 100 lbs covers 1-2 acres Uses: Deer Attractant, Green Manure, Nitrogen Fixation, No Till, Organic Matter (Biomass), Weed Suppression

The Winter Rye is a tall grain cover crop that can reach up to be 5 feet tall and prevents erosion and builds organic matter in the soil. This grain can be planted early to late fall and in mild climates, fall through early spring. This grain is the best choice for fast, cool-season germination. The Winter Rye captures soil nutrients in the fall to release in spring when worked into the soil. Uses: Erosion Control, Green Manure, Nitrogen Scavenger, No Till, Organic Matter (Biomass), Weed suppression

The Austrian Winter Pea, sometimes called black pea or field pea, is a great cool season legume for cover crops, wildlife and winter grazing! This cool-season, annual legume has good, nitrogen-fixing capabilities. The Austrian Winter Pea is a low-growing, viny legume which has been shown to fix over 200 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year. It has hollow, slender and succulent stems, 2 to 4 feet long. The foliage is pale green, and the flowers are colored, usually purple, pink or reddish. Uses: Chicken forage, deer attractant, forage, green manure, nitrogen fixation, no till, organic matter (biomass), weed suppression

The Crimson Clover is an attractive winter annual that can be planted fall or early spring and will protect and improve the soil. This good nitrogen fixer (70-150 lbs per acre per year) blooms showy crimson flowers in late spring that are an excellent source of nectar for bees. This variety inter-seeds well with grass, making it a great way to ready your vegetable garden for the spring or beautify a landscape! Not to be confused with the tough perennial clovers that can take over a meadow. Uses: Bees & Beneficial Insects, Chicken Forage, Compaction Control, Deer Attractant, Erosion Control, Forage, Green Manure, Nitrogen Fixation, No Till, Weed Suppression

The Barkant Forage Turnip is an improved, early maturing, diploid turnip variety with a large purple tankard shaped bulb. Turnips have a high leaf to stem ratio and and provide very high concentrations of protein, sugar content and leaf yields. This turnip is ideally suited for grazing and it is common to obtain 4-6 tons of dry matter per acre of this high-energy feed.  Uses: Chicken forage, deer attractant, forage

The White Dutch Clover is a perennial clover variety that is a customer favorite for controlling erosion while protecting the soil! This legume is a living mulch of permanent cover that spreads by stolons. Grow low so takes close mowing and grazing. The White Dutch Clover benefits bees and insects as well as fixes nitrogen. Uses: Bees & Beneficial Insects, Chicken Forage, Deer Attractant, Erosion Control, Forage, Green Manure, Nitrogen Fixation, No Till, Weed Suppression

Growing your own forage for your chickens is a cheap, easy, and a highly nutritious way to feed your chickens. Chicken feed can be expensive to provide throughout the year. Growing your own from spring to fall provides high levels of nutrients that will make your eggs taste even better. Foraging chickens have a better balanced diet that creates better eggs and meat. This chicken forage blend is a mix of well balanced plants that chickens love to eat. Spread at 5 lbs. per 1,000-2,000 square feet. 100 lbs will cover 1 acre. Mixture includes: Annual Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Buckwheat, Flax, Millet, Forage Peas, Red Clover, Alfalfa

The Dimpled Brown Crowder is an excellent cowpea for canning, freezing or drying. The Dimpled Brown Crowder Cowpea is a prolific yielder with pods that contain 12-15 peas that are closely bunched together. If you are using this variety for Nitrogen fixation, we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

The Winter Wheat is a cool weather grain that is quick to germinate, cold tolerant and is adaptable to a wide range of soils! This wheat can be sown in late summer for erosion control and tilled under in early spring to add organic matter. The Winter Wheat is winter hardy nearly anywhere, and won't go to seed until its second year of growth. Use: Erosion Control, Green Manure, Nitrogen Scavenger, No Till, Weed Suppression

The Sideoats Grama is a warm-season bunchgrass grain variety that is easy to grow and native throughout much of North America. The ornamental and distinctive seed spikes hang from only one side of the stalk, and these make good fresh or dried cuttings. This grain prefers full sun and moderate to dry soils. The Sideoats Grama is recommended for meadow and prairie plantings, beds & borders, and as a component of forage mixes for livestock and wildlife.

Mississippi Purple (Brown Crowder) produces good yields and attractive pods. Produces less vine than other brown crowder varieties. The brown seeds are delicious and creamy. Also resistant to Fusarium, nematodes and many viruses. 24"H semi-erect with semi-compact foliage.

The Mississippi Silver cowpea is adapted to hot humid climates, but does well in most climates. This variety produces pods 6-7 " long, and that are colored silver, occasionally streaked with rose. The Mississippi Silver is easy to grow and shell. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

The Zipper Cream cowpeas are very easy to grow and are a tasty Southern favorite! This variety produces bushy 2-3' plants that bear heavy yields. The 6-9" large pods have large, creamy-white seeds. There are 18-20 seeds per pod. The Zipper Cream is an easy to shell cowpea. Treated Seed.

The Quickpick Pinkeye cowpea is a bush type southern cowpea with early maturity and good disease resistance. This variety is a pinkeye Purplehull type variety that is determinate, erect, compact (reach about 20 inches), and non-vining. This cowpea gets its name, Quickpick, because it matures in about 60 days. The pods are dark-purple and about seven to eight inches long containing nine to eleven, kidney-shaped seeds with large, maroon colored eyes. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

Pinkeye Purple Hull cowpea is one of the most popular varieties preferred by Southerners. Cowpeas in general are great for drying and canning. This variety's hulls are purple and its cowpeas are green with pinkeyes when freshly picked turning cream with dark maroon when dried. The Pinkeye Purple Hull produces pods that are six to seven inches long and purple. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant.