By Blake Jackson
Cover crops are essential for healthy soil. They provide a variety of benefits, including reducing erosion, improving drainage, and increasing organic matter. Cover crops also feed beneficial soil microbes, which are crucial for plant growth.
The best time to plant cover crops is immediately after harvesting your main crop. This gives the cover crops a chance to establish themselves before winter. There are many different cover crop species to choose from, each with its own benefits.
Legumes, such as hairy vetch and crimson clover, can fix nitrogen from the air and make it available to future crops.
Brassicas, like radishes and turnips, have deep taproots that help break up compacted soil and recycle nutrients. Grasses like oats and ryegrass provide quick soil cover, improve soil structure, and add organic matter.
With the recent rain, now is a perfect time to plant cover crops in Pennsylvania. When choosing cover crop species, consider mixing a few together to benefit from their combined advantages.
For help creating a cover crop plan, reach out to your local agricultural extension office or conservation specialist. They can help you choose the right cover crops for your soil and climate.
By planting cover crops, you can improve the health of your soil and ensure the long-term productivity of your land. For more information https://extension.psu.edu/cover-crop-planting-season-has-started
Photo Credit: gettyimages-mvburling
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops