Garden Cover Up Seed Mix (Cover Crop)

Garden Cover Up Seed Mix - The Natural Way to Transform Your Garden Soil

Planting a carefully selected mix of cover crops can transform your garden. This simple step can lead to numerous benefits, such as weed suppression, improved soil fertility, increased organic matter and carbon content, enhanced air and water channels, reduced erosion, improved soil moisture, increased biological life in the soil, and the arrival of beneficial insects to ward off destructive pests.

Research indicates that the soil and garden environment are incredibly complex, akin to a network of nerves and synapses in a brain or nervous system. It is a thriving ecosystem teeming with diverse species that communicate with each other through organic signals. A fertile soil environment is a living organism composed of billions of different living organisms, each aware of the others and working in harmony.

By planting a diverse cover crop mix, you take the first steps to create the fertile soil needed to support these organisms, resulting in a noticeably improved garden.

What are cover crops, and why should you use them?

Cover crops are like a superfood for your soil. They are not grown for harvest but for their incredible benefits to your soil and garden ecosystem. They act like a living blanket, protecting and nurturing your soil when it's not actively growing vegetables. This mix is specifically designed for home gardeners and includes a diverse selection of grains and legumes to:

• Suppress weeds: Crowd out unwanted plants, reducing your weeding workload.
• Improve soil structure: Loosen compacted soil, enhancing drainage and aeration.
• Boost soil fertility: Add organic matter and essential nutrients, naturally enriching your soil.
• Attract beneficial insects: Provide habitat and food for pollinators and natural pest predators.
• Protect against erosion: Shield your soil from wind and rain damage.
• Break disease cycles: Interrupt the life cycles of soil-borne pathogens.

Our Carefully Crafted Mix: The Best of the Best

We've handpicked a diverse blend of cover crops to give your garden the best possible benefits:

Legumes (Nitrogen Fixers):

• Crimson Clover: Beautiful red flowers, add nitrogen, suppress weeds, and prevent erosion. 
• Field Pea: Quickly fixes nitrogen and builds soil structure. Rapid growth and excellent weed suppression.
• Hairy Vetch: Suppresses weeds and improves soil even in harsh conditions. Deep-rooted nitrogen fixer with a unique ability to inhibit weed growth.

Grains (Weed Fighters & Soil Builders):

• Cereal Oats: Suppresses weeds and adds organic matter. It helps other crops grow. Quick cover and nutrient scavenging properties.
• Cereal Rye: Improves soil drainage and erosion control and adds organic matter. Strong weed suppressant.
• Buckwheat: Quickly covers the soil, attracts beneficial insects, and loosens compacted soil.

How to Plant:

• Timing: Sow the mix in the fall after your final harvest or in the spring before planting.
• Preparation: Lightly till or rake your soil to create a seedbed.
• Sowing: Broadcast the seed evenly and gently rake it into the top layer of soil.
• Watering: Water the soil regularly, keeping it consistently moist until the cover crop is established.

Planting Rates:

1 lb: Covers approximately 200 sq. ft.

8 oz: Covers approximately 100 sq. ft.

Tips:

Best Time to Plant: Fall or spring, depending on your climate and goals.

When to Terminate: Once the first flowers start to wilt, before the cover crops set seed. Mow or cut them down with a weed whacker to create a mulch that decomposes while protecting the soil surface.

Learn More

• Cover Crops - Better Soil in a Month
• Why Grow Cover Crops: Easy Soil Improvement
• Cover Crops Beat Garden Weeds
• Cover Crops FAQ
• Which Cover Crop is Best for Me?

From the soil to the seed to the food you eat - we'll help you grow your best garden!