There are a number of things that can still be done in the winter, most notably planting winter vegetables. However, if struggling through the cold with a full garden of vegetables isn’t your style, consider growing cover crops in empty spaces instead.
Why plant cover crops? Because it’s a great way to minimize labor while still preparing the garden for spring planting. Interested? Read on to learn more.
Benefits
By planting what many refer to as “green manure,” gardeners are helping their soil thrive. Cover crops help create more fertile soil by inviting more beneficial insects and adding more organic material to the garden.
Plus, when sown heavily throughout the garden, the crops help to choke out any pesky weeds that are looking to take over.
Furthermore, these plants will help keep soil structure, preventing soil erosion and nutrient loss that occurs during heavy rainfall. The plant’s foliage helps soften the rain’s impact while the roots help hold the soil in place; this also helps with the soil’s water retention, creating a more aerated structure within.
A Few More Notes to Remember
When choosing what to plant, be sure to research when each crop should be planted. There are a few types of this “living mulch” to consider. These include:
- Winter Hardy Crops: Crops that generally are established in the fall, will live throughout the winter, and add more growth in the spring. These plants must be terminated before planting again in the spring.
- Conditional Winter Hardy Crops: Depending on the planting date, these crops may overwinter.
- Winter Kill Crops: These crops will terminate in temperatures of lower twenties to high teens.
- Summer Annual Crops: Heat-driven crops that are typically planted early-to-mid summer. These plants cannot handle frost or freeze.
Finally, when to plant each crop relies on the Zone the garden is in which will dictate when the first frost date occurs.
