Other Cover Crops
These cover crop species, can be used on their own or combined with other crops to achieve maximum benefits within crop rotations. We welcome enquiries for bespoke mixtures and have expert staff on hand to offer advice. Feel free to call 01205 280069 or email info@bostonseeds.co.uk
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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
- 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
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 makes it an ideal short season crop
- 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: 70kg / ha
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
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
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
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
- Inoculated with rhizobia
- Sowing rate: 5-8kg / ha
Sunflowers are another great option when it comes to cover crops, whether used straight or in a mixture to produce combined benefits.
- Standard tall variety.
- Excellent nectar rich flowers provide food for pollinators.
- Dead flower heads provide an ideal overwintering habitat for pollinators.
- Frequently sown as part of a game cover mixture or with Kale.
- Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 10kg.
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LIFAGO buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a different species to conventional buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) - particularly suited to grow as a companion crop with oilseed rape.
- Rapid establishment and high vigour
- Creates a dense canopy to protect the oilseed rape plants
- Smaller seeded and easier to drill with oilseed rape than standard buckwheat
- Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
- Sowing rate: c.10kg/ha as a companion crop
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