Introduction
Whether you are growing vegetables on a large scale or as a home gardener, planting cover crops is a good thing to do for your soil’s health. Cover crops not only increases microbial activity, but helps prevent soil erosion, increases water infiltration, provides weed competition and if your mix includes legumes, it will add nitrogen to the soil. Cover crop seeds can be easily broadcast, raked in and covered with a thin layer of compost or a mulch like straw. Cool-season seeds can be planted in the fall and allowed to grow over the winter and turned under in the spring. The seeds will need to be watered until the fall rains arrive and allowed to establish before freezing temperatures arrive.
Get the Most out of Your Cover Crop
Raw legumes in your cover crops need to be inoculated (coated) with rhizobia bacteria in order to fix nitrogen on their roots. Inoculate your seeds right before you are ready to plant. Put your seeds in a bucket or big bowl and either moisten with non-chlorinated water or a mixture of milk and molasses (one quart and 2 Tbs, respectively). Adjust the amount of liquid you add to just moisten the seed. Sprinkle the inoculant over the seeds and stir to coat. Don’t skimp on the inoculant, more is better than not enough. Plant the seeds right away. The bacteria on the legumes’ roots in your cover crop will take atmospheric nitrogen and fix it in small nodules on the roots. When the roots break down, the nitrogen will be released into the soil.
Read our full article for more information on the benefits of planting a cover crop and watch the video on how to plant it in the fall.
🌱 Cover Crop Resources: Learn, Watch, and Grow
Whether you're new to cover cropping or refining your seasonal strategy, these resources will help you make the most of your efforts—improving soil health, fixing nitrogen, and reducing erosion along the way.
- 📽 Video: Planting Cover Crops in the Fall
Watch a hands-on demonstration of how to seed and manage fall cover crops—featuring daikon radish and other soil-busting varieties. - 📘 Cover Crop Growing Guide
A comprehensive guide for choosing, planting, and turning in cover crops for both beginners and experienced growers. - 🌿 What Are Cover Crops?
An overview of cover crop benefits, from weed suppression and erosion control to organic matter and biodiversity support. - 📗 Introduction to Cover Crops: A Growing Guide
Start here to understand how cover crops work, when to plant them, and how to select the right mix for your goals. - 🌾 Erosion Control with Jute Netting and Cover Crops
A focused guide for gardeners in erosion-prone areas—especially useful for sloped terrain in regions like the Sierra Foothills. - 🛒 Shop Cover Crop Seeds
Browse a full selection of legumes, grasses, and blends ideal for boosting soil fertility and protecting against erosion.
