It's been a few weeks now since we first started planting our cover crops in the front garden. We have an area on a slope that I was able to plant earlier and it's coming in really nice and thick there. We had to wait for the last harvest of tomatoes and peppers to come in at our prime spot on top of the hill. This area is nice and flat, is open to the south for warm winds, and gets plenty of sun.
We are growing peas and oats because they are great for building up the soil and peas actually add nitrogen into the soil. They are really easy to grow and don't even require tillage generally. We just spread a thin layer of mulch over our peas and oats on top of the hill. They will also help prevent soil erosion which is very important here since our soil is so sandy. You can eat them as well, feed them to your livestock, or compost them. Nothing is wasted here.
When you're planting cover crops, it's generally best to do it right before a good rain. The seeds require water to start the germination process. Its best to keep the seeds moist for at least 5-7 days. If you are tilling the seeds into the dirt they may require less water. Clover, rye, and some root vegetables make great cover crops also.
