Growing up, my parents have always been avid gardeners. In the backyard of my childhood home, we had plenty of space for crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and an assortment of peppers. I wish I had the knowledge I do now about sustainable farming practices such as the use of cover crops to implement into my family’s garden to improve the quality and quantity of delicious vegetables available.
Cover crops are one of the many environmentally friendly farming practices that have been applied to both large-scale farms and home gardens. According to an article written by Andy Clark from SARE Outreach, “A cover crop is a plant that is used primarily to slow erosion, improve soil health, enhance water availability, smother weeds, help control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity, and bring a host of other benefits to your farm.” I find this to be a great definition of what a cover crop is because it explains how many benefits cover crops can bring to your farm.
Cover crops are one of the many environmentally friendly farming practices that have been applied to both large-scale farms and home gardens. According to an article written by Andy Clark from SARE Outreach, “A cover crop is a plant that is used primarily to slow erosion, improve soil health, enhance water availability, smother weeds, help control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity, and bring a host of other benefits to your farm.” I find this to be a great definition of what a cover crop is because it explains how many benefits cover crops can bring to your farm.
Cover crops are really a long-term practice so it might take some time to see the true benefits they bring. The way cover crops work is after the season for a crop has ended and it has been fully harvested, it is time to plant a cover crop. For example, once a summer crop like tomatoes have reached the end of their lifespan, a cover crop is planted for the fall and winter months. Some cover crops that are widely used include grasses, legumes, brassicas, and non-legume broadleaves.
After planting your cover crop, you want it to mature as long as possible without making seeds. When the crop reaches maturity, you must figure out how you will kill it. By killing the crop, you are allowing it to provide nutrients to soil as well as protecting it from the elements. There are different ways to kill a cover crop depending on how much space you are taking up. For example, home gardeners typically mow or weed eat to kill their cover crops. An important component to take into consideration is whether the crop you’re working with will completely die from mowing. If not, the crop will regenerate, and the soil won’t receive the full benefits from the crop.
After planting your cover crop, you want it to mature as long as possible without making seeds. When the crop reaches maturity, you must figure out how you will kill it. By killing the crop, you are allowing it to provide nutrients to soil as well as protecting it from the elements. There are different ways to kill a cover crop depending on how much space you are taking up. For example, home gardeners typically mow or weed eat to kill their cover crops. An important component to take into consideration is whether the crop you’re working with will completely die from mowing. If not, the crop will regenerate, and the soil won’t receive the full benefits from the crop.
At Green Bridge Growers, we are big fans of cover crops! We have used cover crops to let the soil have a rest and absorb all of the important nutrients it needs to grow gorgeous vegetables in the following season. We have even used cover crops to alter the composition of sandy soil which in turn helps conserve soil moisture and become better for more picky crops. Hopefully this post has provided some general information on cover crops and how you can implement them in your garden at home! Just remember, it’s important to be patient and choose the right cover crop for your soil health needs. Below I have attached some additional resources for cover crops if you’re interested in checking it out.
https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/
https://organicgrowersschool.org/gardeners/library/basics-of-cover-cropping/
https://joegardener.com/podcast/100-understanding-cover-crops-the-basics-and-beyond-with-jack-algiere/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i_ocliy4Qk
-Keely Charles
https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/
https://organicgrowersschool.org/gardeners/library/basics-of-cover-cropping/
https://joegardener.com/podcast/100-understanding-cover-crops-the-basics-and-beyond-with-jack-algiere/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i_ocliy4Qk
-Keely Charles
A table that includes different types of cover crops, the appropriate season to plant them, and benefits
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