Organic Ryegrass, Oregon Annual (lb)

Certified Organic Oregon Annual Ryegrass provides a vigorous cool-season grass option for organic pasture, soil-protection, and cover-crop programs. Its fast emergence is useful when bare ground must be covered promptly, while the dense network of fibrous roots helps hold the upper soil layer and reduce erosion through wet winter weather.

Once established, the leafy growth can be grazed or mowed, or left to produce biomass for incorporation. The stand also works as the grass component of an organic legume mixture. Pairing ryegrass with clover, peas, or vetch combines rapid surface coverage with nitrogen fixation, but the companion legume must receive its own compatible inoculant. Adjust the mixture so the vigorous ryegrass does not overwhelm slower-establishing legumes.

Sow in fall or spring into a firm, prepared seedbed with reliable establishment moisture. This ryegrass adapts to a broad range of soils but is not suited to locations that remain flooded for long periods. If it is being used as a temporary cover rather than a reseeding pasture, establish a termination schedule before planting. Mow, graze, or incorporate before mature seed forms to limit volunteers in later crops. Annual ryegrass is not a legume and therefore needs no Rhizobium inoculant.

• Scientific Name: Lolium multiflorum
• Certification: Certified organic seed
• Growth Cycle: Cool-season annual grass
• Application Rate: 25–50 lb per acre (about 0.6–1.1 lb per 1,000 sq ft)
• Inoculant: Not required. This is a nonlegume cover crop and does not rely on Rhizobium bacteria for nitrogen fixation.
• Planting Depth: ¼–½ inch in a firm seedbed with good seed-to-soil contact
• Planting Season: Fall or early spring, timed for dependable establishment moisture
• Germination: Approximately 5–7 days under suitable conditions
• Plant Height: Up to approximately 3 feet
• Uses: Organic pasture, erosion control, rapid cool-season cover, weed competition, biomass, and mixtures with organic legumes
• Moisture Note: Adaptable to many soils but not tolerant of prolonged flooding
• Management: Prevent mature seed formation when volunteer ryegrass is not desired

Minimum order quantity: 50 pounds.