Cover Crops in Raised Beds

Figure 1. Cover crops grown in 4 x 8’ rectangle raised beds (a-c) and a 4 x 4 x 4’ triangle raised beds (d-f). Cover crops were planted early October 2020. Note that a dense cover developed by 09 November 2020. Cover crops planted were: (a and d) winter pea, (b and e) a mix of crimson clover, hairy vetch, daikon radish, cereal rye, and winter pea, and (c and f) cereal rye. Certain covers died back due to freezing temperatures by 12 December 2020, with cereal rye the only cover still alive on 25 January 2021 (f).

Raised beds are a common way to grow edible and floral plants when either space is limited, bending down to the surface of the native soil is a challenge, when the present soil is not healthy/ compacted or non-existent (ex. concrete), or used for simply aesthetic purposes (window boxes). For more information, see HGIC 1257, … Continue reading Cover Crops in Raised Beds

Home & Garden Information Center