Cowl Your Bases with These Cowl Crops

By Rachel Foebel, Grasp Gardener in Coaching

What are cowl crops?

These are crops which can be seeded and grown in a particular space for the aim of protecting the soil with plant matter after which permitting that inexperienced materials (and its roots) to return to the soil by decomposing, thereby feeding the soil and its constituents. Particular crops are used for this objective as you may select the cowl crop to suit the wants of your soil or the time period that your backyard area isn’t getting used for different crops.

Advantages of Cowl Crops

Covers the soil – stopping soil run off, evaporation of moisture, and suppresses weeds
Feeds microbial life within the soil
Creates natural matter for the soil to feed itself with
Convert atmospheric nitrogen right into a kind that’s usable for crops
Their roots can loosen compacted soil and permit for aeration as they decompose

The place to make use of them?

You should use them in any backyard area that’s not in any other case in use, is about to return out of manufacturing or to organize a backyard area for future use. Cowl crops are sometimes utilized by farmers and market gardeners, however can be utilized in your yard veggie backyard, annual beds, or a backyard area you hope to make use of subsequent yr.

Freshly mowed cowl crop

Winter-Kill Cowl Crops

These are the kinds that you simply plant in early fall. They develop to a almost mature measurement earlier than winter after which are killed by the frost. They then kind a pleasant mulch over the winter to guard the soil. Select these varieties in areas that you really want to have the ability to plant early within the spring.

Oats – Good for suppressing weeds, bettering soil well being, defending from erosion. Sow 6-10 weeks earlier than first frost.

Area Peas – Develop effectively in cool climate, nice for nitrogen fixation. Plant about 6-8 weeks earlier than first frost for max profit.

Field peas in bloom

Area Peas in Bloom

Daikon Radish (Tillage Radish) – Most identified for its bio-tillage capabilities. The lengthy faucet root grows deep into the soil after which breaks down over winter and early spring, aerating the soil, offering natural materials for the microbes and could be helpful in loosening compacted soil.

Radish Sprouts – I planted these round Sept 3. This photograph was taken Sept 12.

Sorghum Sudan Grass – Nice for weed suppression and moisture retention within the soil. Make sure to plant when soil remains to be heat. It is going to die after frost but when planted too early will go to seed so you should definitely mow earlier than it units seed if it hasn’t been killed by frost but.

Mature Sorghum (when used as a canopy crop you’d terminate earlier than this stage)

Chilly-Hardy Cowl Crops

These are varieties that you simply plant in mid to late fall. They start to develop in fall, turn into dormant within the winter and re-emerge within the early spring. You then watch for them to develop acceptable bio-mass and terminate earlier than they go to seed. These are often harder to terminate and should require tillage, crimping or tarping. Select these varieties for an area within the backyard that gained’t be wanted till very late spring.

Rye – Can thrive in low-fertility soil. Very chilly hardy. It is suggested to until it into the soil within the spring when it reaches 12-18 in excessive.

Mature Rye (Ought to be terminated by crimping or tilling earlier than this stage)

Furry vetch – Not as nice for weed management at first as it’s sluggish rising, however a superb nitrogen fixator as it’s a legume. Plant in early fall after which until or mow it down within the spring and it may well stay in place as a nitrogen-rich mulch.

Vetch Flowers

Crimson Clover & Purple Clover – If allowed to develop to mid-Might within the spring, will present numerous nitrogen for the soil and supply a spring flower supply for pollinators. Has a robust root system that helps cut back compaction.