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A cover crop is used to refresh and revitalise your garden's. Cover crops replace lost nutrients in the soil in a completely natural way. They are grown in autumn and winter in areas that have been harvested and that are not going to be used over winter.
Benefits of a cover crop in your garden
- Cover crops add lost nutrients back into your garden after crops have used them up.
- Cover crops also act as a weed suppressant.
- Stop nutrient leaching in winter from having a bare garden.
- Improve soil structure preventing compaction.
- Prevent erosion from wind and water runoff.
- Add organic matter to stimulate biological activity in the soil.
- Has a cleansing effect against pests and diseases.
When to plant a cover crop
Autumn is the perfect time to plant a cover crop after your summer crop has been cleared and if you’re not planting a winter vegetable garden. Simply plant the seeds directly in to the soil, water and grow until late winter or early spring. Prior to flowering and about 4-6 weeks prior to planting, dig back into the soil while the stems are still green and soft. A great tip is to chop down with your weed eater, chopping the stems into small pieces. This allows for quicker breakdown in your soil before planting your next crop.
Types of cover crops
Lupins are a great crop as they fix nitrogen from the air which is added back into the soil when dug back in. They are great after a heavy user crop such as root crops, potato or longer term such as onion or garlic.
Mustard has a fumigant effect on the soil that can kill pests and diseases. It is a brassica so shouldn’t be sown where other brassica have just been grown.
Buckwheat provides phosphorus to the soil and it's also an edible plant. It grows well in poor soil and is a great weed suppressant. Best in a mix of plants as can be frost sensitive
Oats are easy to grow, have strong roots and reduces leaching, and erosion
Clover is a low growing nitrogen fixing plant. It is great at suppressing weeds and attracting beneficial insects.
A combination of plants provides a good mixture of benefits for restoring your soil over the winter months. Other plants include broad beans, barley, winter rye, field peas, and annual ryegrass.