All Cover Crop Species

Black oats are becoming a popular choice with growers for catch and cover crops. Rapid growth and high biomass make it an option for biogas production.

• Rapid establishment - faster than conventional oats or rye
• Produces an excellent root network ground cover to reduce soil erosion
• High biomass makes it an option for biogas production in AD plants
• Upright growth habit makes it an ideal companion for Vetches. Not winter hardy
• Sowing rate: 30 - 50kg / ha

This fastest growing rye, POWERGREEN is a high yielding variety which can grow at the lower temperatures, making it ideal for late sowing or early harvests.

• Fast initial development, high tillering and high output
• Good growth in cold conditions, excellent winter hardiness
• High nitrogen uptake throughout autumn
• Sow in autumn for incorporation and use in the spring
• Sowing rate: 150kg / ha

Triticale produces long straw with an excellent resistance to lodging. Impressive root development extracts nutrients from deep in the soil profile.

• A wheat/rye hybrid cereal providing good cover and feed in low fertility areas.
• Clean crop with a low susceptibility to fusarium and ergot 
• Resistant to attack from rabbits
• Higher grain yield than other leading varieties
• Sowing rate: 100kg / ha

A nitrogen fixing legume which is better adapted to wet, acidic soils and cooler temperatures. Requires shallow sowing and a firm seedbed.

• Scandinavian origin and better adapted than Red or White Clover to wet acid soils and cooler conditions
• Growth habit similar to Red Clover
• Lower yielding of biomass
• Requires shallow sowing and a firm seedbed
• Sowing rate: 25kg per acre. Packsize: 25kg

Fodder Radish is a quick growing cover crop which scavenges nitrogen, produces large amount of organic matter and improves soil structure.

• Quick growing, produces high organic matter in short periods
• Suppresses weeds and deep roots benefit soil structure
• Ideal as a green manure crop sown in early autumn
• Effective as a standalone green cover or in mixtures
• Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha

White mustard has extensive root development and an impressive yield of dry matter. If not incorporated, surviving plants are usually killed by winter frosts.

• Fast and easy to establish providing rapid ground cover and weed suppression
• Rapid breakdown of organic material after incorporation releases nutrients
• Extensive root development protects soil from errosion and breaks compaction
• Cost effective solution for using with crop rotations
• Sowing rate: 15kg / ha

Brown mustard is a frost tolerant cover crop used to suppress weeds, pump water and improve soil structure.  

• Strong early vigour and medium maturity 
• Distinguished by its superior autumn growth and winter hardiness
• Strong root development to pump water and improve the soil
• Active against PCN, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Verticillium in biofumigation
• Sowing rate: 5kg / ha

DAIKON is a deep rooted tillage radish variety which creates a broad canopy to suppress weeds and improves soil structure with a large tap root. 

• Large tap root breaks through soil pans and adds biomass to soil
• Tap root grows up to 35cm long and 2-5cm in width
• Broad canopy covers soil surface well to suppress weeds
• Sowing period: July until end of August
• Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha (sow at 15kg / ha for maximum root development)

Very popular for use in potato rotations to control soil borne pests and can be incorporated into moist soil to maximise biofumigation.

• Green manure crop with biofumigant properties
• Winter-hardy, easy to establish, cost effective
• Reduces wireworm and PCN populations and their effect on potatoes
• Suppresses Verticillium wilt and Sclerotinia in potato production
• Sowing Rate: 5kg / ha
• VITTASSO Brown Mustard Brochure

Ethiopian mustard is a fast growing frost hardy, brassica which produces a dense leafy canopy and acts as an excellent weed suppressor.

• Produces a dense leafy canopy to supress weeds
• Fast and easy to establish providing rapid ground cover
• Frost hardy cover crop ideal for use in later sowings
• Can tollerate and improve poor soil conditions 
• Sowing rate: 5kg / ha

A low growing green cover crop which fixes nitrogen and suppresses weeds. Often sown amongst brassica crops.

• A perennial that gives good yields even on thin calcareous soils.
• May be grazed by sheep, main use is as a green manure undersown in cereals.
• Low growth habit makes it useful in vegetable intercropping systems.
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 5kg

A low growing green cover crop which fixes nitrogen and suppresses weeds. Often sown amongst brassica crops.

• A biennial/annual legume that gives good yields even on thin calcareous soils
• Few legumes outperform medic in soil-saving and soil-building
• May be grazed by sheep, main use is as a green manure undersown in cereals
• Low growth habit makes it useful in vegetable intercropping systems
• Sowing rate: 12kg / ha

Lupin is a highly efficient nitrogen fixer with a very aggressive taproot which grows deep into the soil and retrieves nutrients usually unavailable to other species. 

• Deep taproot breaks soil compaction and retrieves nutrients 
• Well adapted for acid soils but grows in soils up to pH 8
• Highly efficient at fixing nitrogen and extracting phosphorus from the soil 
• Can be cut for hay and high quality silage
• Sowing rate: 25kg/ha

Borage is a nectar rich, annual flower which produces abundant amounts of easily broken down material that can be incorporated into the soil.

• Nectar rich helping to boost pollinator numbers to benefit future crops
• Rapid breakdown once incorporated into the soil, releasing accessible nutrients 
• Deep taproots break apart soil compaction helping improve drainage and aeration 
• Wide fibrous root network protects soil from erosion 
• Sowing rate: 12.5kg / ha

Buckwheat is a fast-growing annual crop, with a dense canopy for excellent weed suppression. Buckwheat scavenges phosphates, helping to reduce leaching. 

• Rapid establishment and growth make it an ideal short-season crop
• A dense canopy works efficiently as an excellent weed suppressant
• Nectar-rich, helping boost pollinators and other beneficial insects
• Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
• Sowing rate: 50kg / ha

Buckwheat is fast to establish and brings many soil improvement benefits. Growing well in lighter soil types but easily damaged by cold weather.

• Fast establishing 
• Creates a dense canopy which aids weed suppression.
• Sow from May onwards once all risk of frost has passed.
• Sowing rate: 50kg / ha

Crimson clover is a brightly coloured legume which attracts a large numbers of insects. Tolerant of poor soils provided they are alkaline and free draining. 

• Excellent weed suppressor, fast establishing and good nitrogen fixer
• Lower yields of biomass than Red Clover but has much shorter growing period
• Biomass degrades very quickly in the soil releasing nutrients for future crops
• Will over-winter in Southern England for autumn sowing and spring incorporation
• Sowing rate: 15kg / ha

Fodder Radish is a quick growing cover crop which scavenges nitrogen, produces large amount of organic matter and improves soil structure.

• Quick growing, produces high organic matter in short periods
• Suppresses weeds and deep roots benefit soil structure
• Ideal as a green manure crop sown in early autumn
• Effective as a standalone green cover or in mixtures
• Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha

A high yielding, shorter stem variety - a popular option for spring sowings to help control black grass and broad leaved weeds.

• Very quick and early to mature, generating excellent yields
• Strong reputation for producing high yields in following wheat crops
• Performs well on thin soils. Not frost hardy
• Provides interest well into the winter, particularly sown with other species
• Sowing Rate: 50kg / ha

Lucerne is a longer term perennial clover which fixes large amounts of nitrogen from the air to enrich the soil.

• A longer term perennial clover which fixes large quantities of nitrogen
• Widely used for green manure
• Large tap root which is ideally suited to light and chalky soils as well as dry climates.
• Seed is supplied inoculated with rhizobium bacteria
• Sowing rate: 25kg / ha

Persian clover is an is an annual, nitrogen fixing legume which is widely used across Europe and is useful as a forage plant.

• Spring sown for grazing and cutting or autumn sown, for rapid spring growth
• An efficient nitrogen fixing legume to assist future crops
• Suitable for use with poorer soils and drought conditions
• Compatible in seed mixtures with grass and legumes
• Sowing rate: 7-10kg / ha

Phacelia is a prolific seed producer, very fast to establish and an excellent source of pollen and nectar. This makes it attractive to both insects and wild birds.

• A popular green manure crop which is an excellent weed suppressor
• Establishes fast and matures within 10-12 weeks
• Produces a large root mass making the plant an excellent soil improver
• Will produce a multitude of flowers - loved by bees and other insects
• Sowing rate: 5-8kg / ha

Red clover is an aggressive, nitrogen fixing plant which is an effective weed suppressor. Good for improving and aerating soil structure.

• A shorter term alternative to White Clover, will usually last for two years 
• An aggressive plant, providing a large mass of green vegetation
• Fixes large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen which is released once ploughed in
• Large tap root which penetrates deep into the ground, improving soil structure
• Sowing rate: 15kg / ha

Sainfoin is ideal as a long term cover crop in free draining soils, with strong drought resistance and tolerance of low nitrogen soils.

• A nitrogen fixing perennial legume with good drought tolerance
• Excellent high protein forage for horses being very palatable 
• Copes well with poor nutrient soils and drought conditions
• Sainfoin leys can be considered to last four years or more
• Sowing rate: 65-100kg / ha