Cornell University InsigniaCornell University New York State Agricultural Experiment Station

Cover Crops for Vegetable Growers

Why cover crops?
Soil Health

Decision Tool

Newsletter articles

Early summer
Mid and late summer
Late summer legumes
Early fall
Fall
Early spring

Cover crop information

Buckwheat

Annual ryegrass
Oats
Wheat (includes spelt, triticale)
Rye
Sudangrass
Reed Canarygrass

Arugula
Mustard, spring
Mustard, fall
Forage Radish
Forage Turnips

Red clover
Hairy Vetch
Field Peas
White Clover

Photos

Seed sources

Deciding which cover crop to use

This is an online tool to help you quickly narrow the choices of cover crop for your situation. In a few seconds, you will have growing instructions for the cover crop that will do the job you need.

This tool is based on 1) the reason you need a cover crop; 2) when you have a chance to plant; and 3) how long it can stay in the field until you need to plant your next crop.

Choose one or more criteria, and click Submit. The database will return the cover crops that might fit, along with considerations that will let you quickly eliminate those that don't fit your situation. Click on the name of the cover crop to get precise growing instructions.

Cover Crop Decision Tool

     
Management Goal Planting Time Duration  
       

If you get no hits, then there is not a good cover crop for the combination you selected. Try different criteria.

This tool is designed for the soil, climate, cropping practices and seed market in New York. It is probably useful in adjacent states and provinces as well. However, even slightly different timing of cash crop sowing or harvest can change the opportunity to use particular cover crops.