The cover crop of cereal rye that I sowed last autumn has broken dormancy and is now growing rapidly. I was surprised that I obtained a stand this thick considering how late I sowed.
There are many benefits to sowing cover crops: scavenging leftover nutrients, reducing runoff and erosion, suppressing weeds, and providing some organic matter (especially if one waits longer to terminate).
Cereal rye is my favorite species to use because of how cold tolerant and vigorous it is, but I’d like to branch out one year and interplant mixes of rye, kale / collards, clover, and hairy vetch.
I’m shooting for a mid-April termination this year. Still trying to decide on the best method.
