Cover Crops

35- 45 days. Fagopyrum esculntum. Open Pollinated. Buckwheat. The plant produces beautiful, small, white, fragrant flowers that attract bees. Very attractive plant for herb and flower gardens. Well known as a grain, cover crop, and bee plant, but not so well known is its medicinal value. The infusion made from the flowering tops is high in rutin, which combats arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries and veins). For grain harvest, sow 3 months before the fall frost. If the seed is grown for cover crop planting, best when grown between May and July. Thrives on nutrient-deficient soils. A variety from the USA.

30 to 90 days. Mixed. Open Pollinated. Garden Cover Crop Mix. The plant produces excellent yields of the nine most popular cover crop seeds. The home gardener can eliminate growing just one cover crop and can grow them all. The Garden Cover Crop Mix includes Austrian Field Pea, Collard Green, Crimson Clover, Daikon Radish, Frosty Berseem Clover, Hairy Vetch, Hard Red Winter Wheat, Yellow Mustard, and Triticale. This is one of the most beneficial cover crop mixes for home gardens. It is grown any time of the year and mowed to revitalize poor soil. It adds nitrogen and breaks up heavily compacted soils. It also is a great mix for improving weed suppression and erosion control. A variety from the USA.

24 days. Raphanus sativus. Open Pollinated. Groundhog Radish. The plant produces very large radishes. The radishes have an extensive root mass that aerates the soil and pulls nitrogen and other nutrients back to the soil surface for ready use for next season's crop. If planted in late summer, the radishes are not harvested or turned under but left to die off in the winter and decay to contribute to a nitrogen store for spring planting. Excellent soil builder, cover crops, and livestock and wildlife feed. Excellent choice for home gardens, market growers, and open field production. A variety from the USA.

90 days. Triticum aestivum. Open Pollinated. Hard Red Spring Wheat Cover Crops. The plant produces excellent yields of Red Spring Wheat. The Hard Red Spring Wheat is one of the most productive and beneficial cover crops for home gardens. It is grown in early spring, in late March or early April, and mowed to revitalize poor soil. It adds nitrogen and breaks up heavily compacted soils. Sow as early as possible in spring for fall harvest. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 519401. A variety from the USA.

90 days. Triticum aestivum. Open Pollinated. Hard Red Winter Wheat Cover Crops. The plant produces excellent yields of Red Winter Wheat. It is a popular cool-season annual cereal grain used as a cover crop, for grain production, wheatgrass, sprouting, and forage. The Hard Red Winter Wheat is one of the most productive and beneficial cover crops for home gardens. It is grown in late fall, from August to September, and mowed to revitalize poor soil. It adds nitrogen and breaks up heavily compacted soils. Sow as early as possible in the fall for a spring harvest. A variety from the USA.

180 - 210 days. Secale cereale. Open Pollinated. Winter Rye Cover Crops. The plant produces excellent yields of Winter Rye. This is one of the most beneficial cover crops for home gardens and commercial farming. It adds vital nitrogen to the soil and breaks up heavy clay and compact soils. It can be tilled for green manure and mulch. Sow between September and October. It begins growing during the cold months and has green growth in the early spring. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 149789. A variety from the Russia.

Boston Plantain is a premium garden variety offering strong growth, dependable performance, and quality harvests for home gardeners.