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Jack describes that cover crops such as vetch, crimson clover and oat straw make an ideal selection for no dig gardens. Once harvested before flowering begins, these cover crops can easily be tilled back into the soil or mulched in place to complete this task. This minimal disturbance approach gives the soil time to rest, provides aeration, and feeds numerous beneficial soil organisms – while also helping prevent compaction of its contents. Leave the Roots As spring temperatures warm, cover crops like winter rye and leguminous varieties like hairy vetch begin to flourish rapidly, offering opportunities for green manures (also

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Under hot, dry conditions, living mulches compete with crops for essential resources such as soil water. According to research at UW-Madison, broccoli yields were significantly lower when treated with living mulches than when grown in traditional conditions. Some cover crops have allelopathic properties (they inhibit the growth of other plants), however this effect usually dissipates with time and tillage. Grasses such as rye are good choices since they decompose quickly while adding organic matter back into the soil. 1. Plant a Cover Crop Early in the Season If weeds have become excessive, planting a cover crop early in the season

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Sticky clay soil often receives negative reviews; but with proper management it can actually become your garden’s greatest ally. By adding organic matter such as compost and mulching the area regularly, adding organic matter helps break up clay structure while improving its structure and function. Planting cover crops with robust root systems is key to improving clay soils. Legumes (clover, alfalfa and winter peas), grasses (winter rye and buckwheat), perennial plants like oats are excellent options. Cover Crops That Loosen Clay Soil Clay soil often forms a hard crust when dried out, making it harder for plant roots to penetrate

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Once your vegetable crops have come to an end, use cover crops as an effective way of adding organic matter and protecting soil against erosion and compaction. Aside from providing organic matter benefits, cover crops can also serve to suppress weeds while decreasing root-knot nematode pressure. Grains like annual rye, oats and wheat build biomass while simultaneously improving soil infiltration. Legumes such as crimson clover have nodules that work symbiotically with healthy soil bacteria to fix nitrogen for use by future vegetable crops. Weed Suppression Cover crops are an invaluable way for vegetable gardeners looking to increase soil health. Not

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Cover crops provide protection from erosion, aeration, suppression of weeds, addition of organic matter and recycling of nutrients in soil. When managed effectively they form the basis of healthy vegetable production for next year. Legumes such as crimson clover, field peas and hairy vetch can act as nitrogen “fixers,” drawing up nutrients through their roots nodules for use by vegetables. Plant them late summer through fall to ensure harvest before winter kills them off. Spring Warm season cover crops such as buckwheat can quickly fill an empty plot in spring and summer gardens, acting to block out weeds while protecting

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Cover crop mixtures should include species that provide desired services (such as weed suppression, soil erosion control and nitrogen sequestration). It is also crucial that growth periods, forms and strategies for nutrient acquisition be balanced to optimize the entire mix as a whole. Winter grains such as winter rye, barley, oats and wheat (emmert, spelt or triticale) provide an effective ground cover that reduces erosion while providing a dense blanket to subdue weeds and suppress erosion before being worked into place in preparation for planting edible crops in spring. 1. Winter Peas Cool-season annual that tolerates frost and provides an

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