Cover Crop Seeds

You know we love cover crops at the Farm, but did you know that cover crops are great in the home garden too? Just like at the Farm, using cover crops helps to add nutrients to the soil and protect the soil over the winter and into the spring.

BAM (Basic Annual Mix):

• A mix of forage peas and one or more of the following annual cereals: Oats, Barley, Triticale, Wheat.
• Can be planted anytime from April 1 to September 15.
• Grows to be waist height approximately 2 months after spring seeding. 
• Adds nitrogen and organic matter to the soil, and are a good weed suppressant.
• Can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring for a summer cover crop (mow when the seeds heads are at the 'milky' stage).
• For a fall cover crop, plant in mid to late August for maximum biomass. 
• For late August to mid-September seeding dates, increase seeding rates by 25-50% (the later you are, the higher you go). The cover crop will only grow to be a couple inches tall at that date, but even this modest growth will still create a beautiful mat of vegetative matter to cover and protect your soil for winter.
• This mix is killed by cold winter temperatures making it easy to start up your garden in the spring. 
• 1 cup (+/-200g) will seed 64 sq ft (8x8 garden)

Winter Cereal Rye:

• Fall rye is planted in the fall (August 15 to mid-October), over-winters, and begins vigorous growth in the spring. 
• Can be planted all the way to mid-October! Even when the leaves are only 2 inches tall, the impressive rooting system meshes with the soil to help stabilise and protect from damage and erosion during winter.
• Will grow 6-7 ft high if you let it go
• Helps increase the organic matter content of the soil which helps to retain and make available moisture and nutrients for plants. Also suppresses weeds, disease, and pests.
• This crop overwinters in our climate and is SUPER vigorous in the spring, so make sure to make a plan for how you are going to destroy it (mowing, tarping, etc.) and leave plenty of time in the spring before you plan on planting (ie. for June planted crops) Another option is to lay it over when it's about 4-5 ft tall and the seed heads have just emerged and leave in situ as a mulch
• 1 cup (+/-210 g) will seed 100 sq ft. 
• Can be combined with Clover and Grass Mix for a full year or multi-year cover crop.