
Jordan Freytag

Cover crops are the best way to replenish the soil in your garden. Fall cover crops will keep that soil alive through the winter. There are several seed types that are ideal for this, which ones really depend on the type of soil you have, and what your climate or hardiness zone is.
Generally, it's best to clear out your summer garden about four weeks before the first frost date. Healthy plants can be cut down or pulled out by the roots and added to your compost pile. Any diseased plants should not be composted, for the safety of the garden soil and future harvests. For those, it's best to pull them out by the roots, and carefully dispose of them, in a plastic trash bag.
Then comes the fun part! Add some compost to your garden and plant some cover crops. Some of the best of these are legumes, grains, or radishes. A personal favorite, and an easy grower in the fall that's great for raised beds, is the legume Hairy Vetch.
The cover crops will add nitrogen back to the soil, suppress weeds, and some will break up the ground. Remove them in spring, before they flower. An easy way to do that is to use a weed-wacker and crop them completely down. Leave the plants scattered on the surface to dry out for a few days, then turn it over into the garden. This will add good organic material to the soil, as they break down over a few weeks.
Written by David Wiley
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
4 comments
Allison
I ordered some clover seeds as a cover crop and this will be my first time attempting a cover crop for the winter … I live in zone 8a and was hoping to get a winter garden in but a TON of rain followed by high temperatures killed most of the vegetable seedlings :*( If I sow the clover seeds now and they flower over these next few growing months, does that negate their effectiveness as a cover crop?
Richard Hardy
Great article. Regenerative agriculture is one major way to combat global warming. Our nation’s soil used to sequester carbon but commercial agriculture has never evolved enough to put tilling in the rear view mirror. Our soil gets continuously turned over and exposed to the sun where it turns to useless dirt instead of healthy and vigorous soil. Cover crops are a key component of healthy soil. Time to realize there’s an entire universe of nutrients below our topsoil.
Sarah
What if you crop the cover crop down and you can’t get it dry because of spring rain?
Cheryl Coogen
I grow my veggies in Gro-Bags. How can I use cover crops in this situation?
Further Reading
Discovering the Festival of Lights: Hanukkah's History and Traditions
Written By Chelsea Hafer Often referred to as the Festival of Lights, hanukkah is a radiant celebration that illuminates the winter season with hope, unity, and tradition. Can you feel the warm glow of candlelight, the sizzle of potato latkes, and the ...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-295 min read0Stay Healthy - Foods to Eat This Winter
Written By Lara Wadsworth Staying healthy in the winter is always on the top list for health-conscious individuals. With flu season, less sunlight, cold temperatures, and back-to-school time, the winter season is often a hash of sickness after sickness...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-285 min read0Rediscovering Kamut: A Nutrient-Rich Journey
Written By Chelsea Hafer In the world of grains, Kamut stands as a venerable ancestor, a time-honored variety that has gracefully made its way back into the spotlight. The name Kamut, derived from the ancient Egyptian word for "wheat," paints a vivid p...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-267 min read0DIY Bird Seed Ornaments
Who doesn't enjoy watching birds out their window? I find birds absolutely mesmerizing to watch. The way they interact with each other and the environment is so much fun to observe. You can even stage their presence by providing a source of food. These...
Ashleigh Smith
2023-11-263 min read1