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What cover crop to plant now? #878321

Asked July 22, 2024, 5:05 PM EDT

Hello - I'm just starting out with raised bed vegetable gardening, and I have a bare patches in my beds. I see most cover crops are either planted in early spring or late summer/fall, but is there a cover crop I could plant now to fill in the bare spots in my beds? I'm planning to do crimson clover later in the season, so I could do that in the current bare spots if it's not too early.

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

Buckwheat would be best right now, and it can often be sourced locally at places like farm supply stores. Another option is Southern peas (also called cowpeas), which would probably be flowering when it's time to mow the crop down and dig the residues into the soil to start composting and releasing their nutrients. (The linked page focuses on agricultural farm use, but may provide some useful information for any use.) Our Cover Crops for Gardens web page provides more information about cover crops in general, including a recommended Buckwheat seeding rate.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 23, 2024, 11:19 AM EDT
Thanks very much, Miri! I’ll give buckwheat a try. 

On Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 11:19 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 23, 2024, 12:17 PM EDT
You're welcome.
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 23, 2024, 1:40 PM EDT

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