Cover crops — what to sow in autumn to improve soil in spring
In short: Empty beds after harvest are a wasted opportunity. Cover crops sown in September work all winter — fixing nitrogen, loosening soil with roots and protecting against erosion. Plowed under in spring, they replace fertilizer.
Cover crops — plants that work while you rest
Empty beds in autumn: rain washes away nutrients, soil loses structure, weeds take over the field. Cover crops are an elegant solution to all these problems at once.
Most popular cover crops and what they do:
| Plant | When to sow | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Phacelia | VIII–IX | excellent structure-building, blooms beautifully |
| White mustard | VIII–IX | deacidifies, acts antifungally |
| Yellow lupin | VIII | fixes nitrogen from air — valuable gift |
| Hairy vetch | IX | frost-resistant, fixes nitrogen |
| Winter rye | IX–X | erosion protection throughout winter |
How to do it:
- After harvest, level the bed
- Sow densely — like for a meadow
- Rake lightly
- In spring (April) — dig in the green mass with hoe or spade
- Wait 2–3 weeks before sowing — mass must decompose
For the lazy: Sow rye or vetch — frost-resistant, zero maintenance through winter. In spring you'll mow and dig in.
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