Growing Organic Winter Rye Cover Crop Garden Seeds
About Organic Winter Rye Cover Crop Garden Seeds
Like many cereal grains, winter rye cover crop is popularly broadcasted directly in early spring, or early fall for second year maturity, intended to overwinter. For a traditional garden harvest, sow 2-3 organic winter rye cover crop seeds ½” deep and 2-3” apart in fertile, loamy, and well-drained garden soil in full sun. Non-GMO winter rye seeds germinate in 4-10 days, with no thinning required. Non-GMO Secale cereale is a winter-hardy grain with no serious pests or diseases. If sown to harvest rye grains and berries, then harvest winter rye when heads of seeds have become dried, hard, and heavy.
Depending on size of crop, anything from a pair of scissors to a scythe would work to cut down winter rye for drying. Using twine, bunch up loose rye into a bale, about the size of a bundle of wood. Allow winter rye cover crop to dry for 2-3 weeks before harvesting rye berries. Like many grains of the Triticeae family, organic winter rye berries can be milled, rolled, steel-cut, and boiled for nearly any occasion.
Organic Winter Rye Benefits
When planted in the fall, Winter Rye establishes quickly, providing lush green cover through the winter, offering producers erosion and weed control while building organic matter in the soil. Non-GMO organic winter rye is popularly grown as a cover crop for its ability to transfer nitrogen back into depleted soils. Heirloom winter rye seeds are also grown to break up heavy, clay-rich soils to bolster erosion control while allowing future spring crops, especially root vegetables, to experience no soil competition.
Winter Rye can be used when fall planting is needed for temporary pasture. Winter rye is also known to slow down the germination process of surrounding weeds and plants, a trait known as allelopathy, which provides a strong defense against weed growth, unwanted reseeding, and invasive species. Heirloom winter rye is more tolerant to drought than other cereal grains and can act as a "green manure" mulch biomass when tilled back into the soil for organic-rich spring garden soil.
Organic Rye Berries
Rye is unusual among grains for the high level of fiber in its endosperm – not just in its bran. It is higher in fiber than other types of common bread and is darker in color and stronger in flavor. Because of this, rye products generally have a lower glycemic index than products made from wheat and most other grains, making it especially healthy for diabetics.
Rye Berries can be cooked as a whole grain, a hearty breakfast cereal or ground in your own mill for the freshest rye flour available. Rye can also be sprouted to use in salads and on sandwiches. Rye is perfect for a pumpernickel bread loaf or robust peasant breads.
Wholesale Organic Winter Rye Cover Crop Seeds Per Package:
- 25 g - Wholesale - Approximately 1,000 Seeds
- 5 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 90,000 Seeds
- 25 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 450,000 Seeds
Non-GMO Organic Winter Rye cover crop seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on orders over $45.
