All Cover Crop Species

Boston Seeds offer the EnviroSeeds range of cover crops seed mixtures and straights, including black oats seed, phacelia seed, berseem clover seed and many more. We welcome enquiries for the species listed below or bespoke mixtures.
 

Don't hesitate to get in touch to speak to one of our experts or request a catalogue to view our full range. Ordering regularly or looking for large volumes? Click here to apply for a trade account today - we review all applications within one working day.

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Oil Radish Seed (Raphanus sativus)

Fodder Radish is a quick growing cover crop which scavenges nitrogen, produces large amount of organic matter and improves soil structure.

  • Quick growing, produces high organic matter in short periods
  • Suppresses weeds and deep roots benefit soil structure
  • Ideal as a green manure crop sown in early autumn
  • Effective as a standalone green cover or in mixtures
  • Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha
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White Mustard Seed (Sinapsis alba)

White mustard has extensive root development and an impressive yield of dry matter. If not incorporated, surviving plants are usually killed by winter frosts.

  • Fast and easy to establish providing rapid ground cover and weed suppression
  • Rapid breakdown of organic material after incorporation releases nutrients
  • Extensive root development protects soil from errosion and breaks compaction
  • Cost effective solution for using with crop rotations
  • Sowing rate: 15kg / ha
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Brown Mustard Seeds (Brassica juncea)

Brown mustard is a frost tolerant cover crop used to suppress weeds, pump water and improve soil structure.  

  • Strong early vigour and medium maturity 
  • Distinguished by its superior autumn growth and winter hardiness
  • Strong root development to pump water and improve the soil
  • Active against PCN, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Verticillium in biofumigation
  • Sowing rate: 5kg / ha
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DAIKON Tillage Radish Seed (Raphanus sativus)

DAIKON is a deep rooted tillage radish variety which creates a broad canopy to suppress weeds and improves soil structure with a large tap root. 

  • Large tap root breaks through soil pans and adds biomass to soil
  • Tap root grows up to 35cm long and 2-5cm in width
  • Broad canopy covers soil surface well to suppress weeds
  • Sowing period: July until end of August
  • Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha (sow at 15kg / ha for maximum root development)
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VITTASSO Brown Mustard Seed (Brassica juncea)

Very popular for use in potato rotations to control soil borne pests and can be incorporated into moist soil to maximise biofumigation.

  • Green manure crop with biofumigant properties
  • Winter-hardy, easy to establish, cost effective
  • Reduces wireworm and PCN populations and their effect on potatoes
  • Suppresses Verticillium wilt and Sclerotinia in potato production
  • Sowing Rate: 5kg / ha
  • VITTASSO Brown Mustard Brochure
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Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata)
2-3 Day Delivery
Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata)

Ethiopian mustard is a fast growing frost hardy, brassica which produces a dense leafy canopy and acts as an excellent weed suppressor.

  • Produces a dense leafy canopy to supress weeds
  • Fast and easy to establish providing rapid ground cover
  • Frost hardy cover crop ideal for use in later sowings
  • Can tollerate and improve poor soil conditions 
  • Sowing rate: 5kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Birdsfoot Trefoil Seed (Lotus corniculatus)

A low growing green cover crop which fixes nitrogen and suppresses weeds. Often sown amongst brassica crops.

  • A perennial that gives good yields even on thin calcareous soils.
  • May be grazed by sheep, main use is as a green manure undersown in cereals.
  • Low growth habit makes it useful in vegetable intercropping systems.
  • Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 5kg
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Black Medick (Yellow Trefoil) Seed (Medicago lupulina)
2-3 Day Delivery
Black Medick (Yellow Trefoil) Seed (Medicago lupulina)

A low growing green cover crop which fixes nitrogen and suppresses weeds. Often sown amongst brassica crops.

  • A biennial/annual legume that gives good yields even on thin calcareous soils
  • Few legumes outperform medic in soil-saving and soil-building
  • May be grazed by sheep, main use is as a green manure undersown in cereals
  • Low growth habit makes it useful in vegetable intercropping systems
  • Sowing rate: 12kg / ha
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Black Oats Seed (Avena strigosa)

Black oats are becoming a popular choice with growers for catch and cover crops. Rapid growth and high biomass make it an option for biogas production.

  • Rapid establishment - faster than conventional oats or rye
  • Produces an excellent root network ground cover to reduce soil erosion
  • High biomass makes it an option for biogas production in AD plants
  • Upright growth habit makes it an ideal companion for Vetches. Not winter hardy
  • Sowing rate: 30 - 50kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Blue Lupin (Lupinus augustifolious)

Lupin is a highly efficient nitrogen fixer with a very aggressive taproot which grows deep into the soil and retrieves nutrients usually unavailable to other species. 

  • Deep taproot breaks soil compaction and retrieves nutrients 
  • Well adapted for acid soils but grows in soils up to pH 8
  • Highly efficient at fixing nitrogen and extracting phosphorus from the soil 
  • Can be cut for hay and high quality silage
  • Sowing rate: 25kg/ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Borage Seed (Borago officinalis)

Borage is a nectar rich, annual flower which produces abundant amounts of easily broken down material that can be incorporated into the soil.

  • Nectar rich helping to boost pollinator numbers to benefit future crops
  • Rapid breakdown once incorporated into the soil, releasing accessible nutrients 
  • Deep taproots break apart soil compaction helping improve drainage and aeration 
  • Wide fibrous root network protects soil from erosion 
  • Sowing rate: 12.5kg / ha
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Buckwheat Seed (Fagopyrum esculentum)

Buckwheat is a fast-growing annual crop, with a dense canopy for excellent weed suppression. Buckwheat scavenges phosphates, helping to reduce leaching. 

  • Rapid establishment and growth make it an ideal short-season crop
  • A dense canopy works efficiently as an excellent weed suppressant
  • Nectar-rich, helping boost pollinators and other beneficial insects
  • Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
  • Sowing rate: 50kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Buckwheat Seed (Fagopyrum esculentum) - (Organic)

Buckwheat is fast to establish and brings many soil improvement benefits. Growing well in lighter soil types but easily damaged by cold weather.

  • Fast establishing 
  • Creates a dense canopy which aids weed suppression.
  • Sow from May onwards once all risk of frost has passed.
  • Sowing rate: 50kg / ha
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Crimson Clover Seed (Trifolium incarnatum)

Crimson clover is a brightly coloured legume which attracts a large numbers of insects. Tolerant of poor soils provided they are alkaline and free draining. 

  • Excellent weed suppressor, fast establishing and good nitrogen fixer
  • Lower yields of biomass than Red Clover but has much shorter growing period
  • Biomass degrades very quickly in the soil releasing nutrients for future crops
  • Will over-winter in Southern England for autumn sowing and spring incorporation
  • Sowing rate: 15kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Fodder Radish Seed (Raphanus sativus) - (Organic)

Fodder Radish is a quick growing cover crop which scavenges nitrogen, produces large amount of organic matter and improves soil structure.

  • Quick growing, produces high organic matter in short periods
  • Suppresses weeds and deep roots benefit soil structure
  • Ideal as a green manure crop sown in early autumn
  • Effective as a standalone green cover or in mixtures
  • Sowing rate: 15-25kg / ha
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Forage Rye Seed (Secale cereale)

This fastest growing rye, POWERGREEN is a high yielding variety which can grow at the lower temperatures, making it ideal for late sowing or early harvests.

  • Fast initial development, high tillering and high output
  • Good growth in cold conditions, excellent winter hardiness
  • High nitrogen uptake throughout autumn
  • Sow in autumn for incorporation and use in the spring
  • Sowing rate: 150kg / ha

This item is currently unavailable

Linseed Seed (Linum usitatissimum)

A high yielding, shorter stem variety - a popular option for spring sowings to help control black grass and broad leaved weeds.

  • Very quick and early to mature, generating excellent yields
  • Strong reputation for producing high yields in following wheat crops
  • Performs well on thin soils. Not frost hardy
  • Provides interest well into the winter, particularly sown with other species
  • Sowing Rate: 50kg / ha
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Lucerne Seed (Medicago sativa)
2-3 Day Delivery
Lucerne Seed (Medicago sativa)

Lucerne is a longer term perennial clover which fixes large amounts of nitrogen from the air to enrich the soil.

  • A longer term perennial clover which fixes large quantities of nitrogen
  • Widely used for green manure
  • Large tap root which is ideally suited to light and chalky soils as well as dry climates.
  • Seed is supplied inoculated with rhizobium bacteria
  • Sowing rate: 25kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Persian Clover Seed (Trifolium resupinatum)

Persian clover is an is an annual, nitrogen fixing legume which is widely used across Europe and is useful as a forage plant.

  • Spring sown for grazing and cutting or autumn sown, for rapid spring growth
  • An efficient nitrogen fixing legume to assist future crops
  • Suitable for use with poorer soils and drought conditions
  • Compatible in seed mixtures with grass and legumes
  • Sowing rate: 7-10kg / ha
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Phacelia Seed (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

Phacelia is a prolific seed producer, very fast to establish and an excellent source of pollen and nectar. This makes it attractive to both insects and wild birds.

  • A popular green manure crop which is an excellent weed suppressor
  • Establishes fast and matures within 10-12 weeks
  • Produces a large root mass making the plant an excellent soil improver
  • Will produce a multitude of flowers - loved by bees and other insects
  • Sowing rate: 5-8kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Red Clover Seed (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover is an aggressive, nitrogen fixing plant which is an effective weed suppressor. Good for improving and aerating soil structure.

  • A shorter term alternative to White Clover, will usually last for two years 
  • An aggressive plant, providing a large mass of green vegetation
  • Fixes large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen which is released once ploughed in
  • Large tap root which penetrates deep into the ground, improving soil structure
  • Sowing rate: 15kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Sainfoin (Agricultural) (Onobrychis vicifolia)

Sainfoin is ideal as a long term cover crop in free draining soils, with strong drought resistance and tolerance of low nitrogen soils.

  • A nitrogen fixing perennial legume with good drought tolerance
  • Excellent high protein forage for horses being very palatable 
  • Copes well with poor nutrient soils and drought conditions
  • Sainfoin leys can be considered to last four years or more
  • Sowing rate: 65-100kg / ha
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2-3 Day Delivery
Spring Triticale Seed

Triticale produces long straw with an excellent resistance to lodging. Impressive root development extracts nutrients from deep in the soil profile.

  • A wheat/rye hybrid cereal providing good cover and feed in low fertility areas.
  • Clean crop with a low susceptibility to fusarium and ergot 
  • Resistant to attack from rabbits
  • Higher grain yield than other leading varieties
  • Sowing rate: 100kg / ha

This item is currently unavailable

Spring Vetch Seed (Vicia sativa)

Spring vetch is a nitrogen fixing legume which due to its larger seed size can be sown later in the year than most other legumes.

  • Fast establishing legume which is an excellent weed suppressor 
  • Vetches provide large amounts of nitrogen which is available to the following crop
  • A vigorous trailing/climbing annual legume that does best on dry, alkaline soils
  • Commonly sown as a mixture with Forage Rye
  • Sowing rate: 50kg / ha
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If you'd like more information, don't hesitate to get in touch on 01205 280069 or email [email protected].