Winter cover crops, also known as green manures, are living mulch.

They help to provide organic matter and nutrients for the soil.

There are several types of cover crops to choose from.

Winter Rye

Rye rapidly produces a ground cover that holds soil firm. This is an excellent choice if your garden is in an environment subjected to heavy downpours or wind.

Winter Wheat

This cover crop is a bit more manageable for the home gardener than ryes, being easier to remove come spring.

Hairy Vetch

Hairy Vetch is a winter hardy cover crop. It also has "nitrogen fixing" abilities, being part of the legume family. It also protects from soil erosion and provides excellent weed control.

Austrian Winter Peas

This cover crop has a high cold tolerance. They're also easy to remove with herbicides come spring planting season. They are a great choice to mix with radish and can be established early or late fall.

Crimson Clover

This cover crop has a high cold tolerance. They're also easy to remove with herbicides come spring planting season. They are a great choice to mix with radish and can be established early or late fall.

Field Peas

You can combine field Peas with oats to offer an excellent cover crop. They offer modest "nitrogen fixing" capabilities and overall soil health improvement.

Oilseed Radish

Oilseed radish is in the mustard family. This might be a great cover crop option if you've got livestock, as it doubles as livestock forage.

Rapeseed

Rapeseed is a somewhat cold tolerant cover crop. It has been shown to prevent weed growth and pests and prevent erosion.

READ MORE!

SWIPE UP