Cover Crops for Vegetable Growers
Newsletter articles
Early summer
Mid and
late summer
Late summer
legumes
Early fall
Fall
Early spring
Cover crop information
Buckwheat
Annual
ryegrass
Oats
Wheat (includes
spelt, triticale)
Rye
Sudangrass
Reed Canarygrass
Arugula
Mustard, spring
Mustard, fall
Forage Radish
Forage
Turnips
Red
clover
Hairy Vetch
Field Peas
White
Clover
Forage Turnips
and Forage Rape Click to download printable PDF
file.
The
fall-seeded Brassicas, turnips and rape offer the benefit of weed
suppression in the following crop with quick decomposition
after being turned under. Turnip and rape grow quickly and are good at
reducing surface compaction while providing winter cover and fall weed
suppression.Land preparation
Smooth seed bed weed free, well drained with enough moisture.
Seeding rate
Turnips
Drill 4-7 lb/ac, 1/2 in deep.
Broadcast 10-12 lb/ac, cover 1/2 – 3/4 in.
Use the higher rate if fall weed suppression is the goal.
Rape
Drill 5-10 lb/ac, less than 3/4 in deep.
Broadcast 8-14 lb/acii
Cover up to 1 in.
Seed can be no-tilled into suppressed sod or seeded into a conventionally prepared seed bed. Till as necessary to kill the first flush of weeds to ensure a weed free seedbed. After seeding roll the ground to improve seed to soil contact but not to break up soil aggregates.
Seeding date
August
Seed sources
Ernst Conservation Seed , AMPAC Seed Company
Maintenance
Avoid wet spots
Control
Incorporate in Spring, any time before full flowering.
Tips
These cover crops can harbor brassica diseases, do not use in rotation with brassicas. Useful for suppressing Sclerotinia in lettuce.
