As the main growing season winds down, many gardeners pack away their tools and call it a year. But your garden’s soil is still eager to grow, and fall is the perfect time to plant cover crops that enrich and protect it through the colder months.
What Are Cover Crops?
Cover crops — sometimes called “green manure” — are plants grown not for harvest, but to build and protect your soil. Common choices include rye, clover, winter peas, and vetch. These crops form a living blanket over your garden beds, preventing erosion, suppressing weeds, and adding valuable organic matter when they’re turned back into the soil.
Why Fall Is the Best Time to Plant
Fall offers the ideal conditions for establishing cover crops. The soil is still warm from summer, and there’s enough rainfall to encourage germination without the stress of summer heat. As they grow, these plants capture nutrients that would otherwise wash away, holding them in place for your spring crops to use.
The Power of Organic Soil
Starting with Coast of Maine organic soil gives your cover crops a strong foundation. Our organic soils are rich in compost, aged bark, and ocean-based ingredients (like lobster shell or kelp meal), providing balanced nutrition and enhance microbial life underground. These microbes work hand-in-hand with your cover crops, breaking down organic matter and improving soil texture, drainage, and fertility.
By spring, you’ll find your soil looser, darker, and more alive and ready for another successful season.
How to Plant Cover Crops
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Clear the Area: Remove summer plant debris and lightly rake the soil.
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Add Soil: Work in Coast of Maine organic soil into your existing garden bed.
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Broadcast Seeds: Evenly spread your cover crop seeds over the soil surface.
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Rake and Water: Gently rake to cover the seeds and water them in well.
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Let Nature Work: Allow your cover crops to grow through fall and into winter.
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Turn Them In: Come spring, cut or till the plants into the soil two to three weeks before planting your garden.
A Simple Step Toward Sustainable Gardening
Cover cropping is one of the easiest and most effective ways to nurture your garden naturally. It’s a cycle of giving back, feeding your soil, supporting beneficial organisms, and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
This fall, plant a cover crop and let your organic soil rest, rebuild, and recharge, so your garden can grow even better next year.
