How to Choose Your Cover Crop Seeds
Grasses: For Building Biomass & Suppressing Weeds
Grasses like Cereal Rye, Oats, Millet, Sorghum-Sudangrass, and Annual Ryegrass are the workhorses of the cover crop world. They produce large amounts of organic matter, feature dense, fibrous root systems that scavenge leftover nutrients, and are unmatched in their ability to smother weeds.
Legumes: For Natural Nitrogen Fixation
Legumes, such as Crimson Clover, Red Clover, Hairy Vetch, Cowpeas, Sunn Hemp, and Field Peas, are nature's fertilizer factories. They partner with soil bacteria to pull nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into a form your cash crops can use, boosting fertility and reducing your input costs.
Brassicas: For Breaking Up Compaction
With powerful, deep taproots, Brassicas like Daikon Radishes and Turnips act as "bio-drills." They break through tough, compacted soil layers, improving water infiltration and pulling valuable nutrients up from deep within the soil profile for your next crop to use.
Peakblend™ Mixes: For All-in-One Solutions
Get the best of all worlds with our expertly designed Peakblend™ Mixes. These blends are scientifically formulated with a combination of grasses, legumes, and brassicas to achieve multiple goals at once. For a powerful, simple, and effective cover crop solution, start here.
Cover Crops Frequently Asked Questions
Cereal rye is often considered the most straightforward and forgiving cover crop. It establishes easily, grows well in cooler temperatures, and produces a lot of biomass to suppress weeds. Our Fall Foundation Mix is an excellent, balanced choice for first-time users.
This depends on your region and the species you choose. Generally, cover crops are planted in late summer or early fall after your main harvest to provide winter cover. Some species can also be planted in the spring.
Termination methods depend on your system. Common options include rolling or crimping the crop to form a mulch mat for no-till systems, light tillage to incorporate the biomass, or using an appropriate herbicide for a clean start before planting your cash crop.
In simple terms, they have different jobs. Legumes (like clovers and vetch) are primarily used to "fix" nitrogen from the air into your soil. Brassicas (like radishes and turnips) have powerful taproots that are excellent for breaking up compacted soil layers and scavenging nutrients.
Yes, for best results. Legume seeds, especially important ones like Alfalfa and Soybeans, must be treated with the correct strain of rhizobia bacteria (an inoculant) to enable them to fix nitrogen. We offer a range of biologicals, including pre-inoculated seeds or separate inoculants to ensure your success.
Yes. For large-scale needs, we can quote a full 44,000 lb truckload of key seeds like cereal rye or oats shipped directly from the grower at the best possible price.
