All Cover Crop Species

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

Annual form of ryegrass

• Produces large amounts of biomass in short space of time
• Suitable for silage, hay production, grazing and green manure
• Can be sown from spring through to autumn
• Sowing rate: 15kg per acre. Pack size: 25kg.

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

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

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

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

Hairy vetch fix substantial amounts of nitrogen, which is easily accessible for future crops. Vigorous spring growth suppresses weeds and protects the soil from erosion. 
 

• Fast establishing legume which is an excellent weed suppressor
• Provides substantial amounts of nitrogen which is available to the following crop
• A vigorous legume that does best on dry, alkaline soils
• Commonly sown as a mixture with Forage Rye
• Sowing rate: 50kg / ha

BINGO purple vetch is an exciting development in short term cover cropping and establishes quickly producing good levels of bio-mass. Purple vetch is very susceptible to frost and will be removed quickly when temperatures drop below freezing. 

• Very frost sensitive
• Fast to establish
• Nitrogen fixing
• Suites early autumn sowings 
• Sowing rate: 20kg / ha

LIFAGO buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a different species to conventional buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) - particularly suited to grow as a companion crop with oilseed rape.

• Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
• Rapid establishment and high vigour
• Creates a dense canopy to protect the oilseed rape plants
• Smaller seeded and easier to drill with oilseed rape than standard buckwheat
• Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
• Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): IPM3
• Sowing rate: c.10kg/ha as a companion crop

NACRE winter vetch is ideal for both Autumn or Spring sowing with superior establishment and frost tolerance. Strong nitrogen fixing properties and excellent resistance to disease.

• Superior establishment and fast growth act as an excellent weed suppressor
• Produces large amounts of nitrogen, which break down easily for the following crop
• Annual legume that performs best on dry, alkaline soils
• Commonly sown as a companion crop with Forage Rye
• 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

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