Cover Crops

Soil Health Guide - BC Vegetable Gardens

Sow: Late Summer to Early Fall | Turn In: Early Spring | Works for Gardens of All Sizes

OVERVIEW

Cover crops, also called green manure, are one of the most effective and affordable ways to improve soil health in a vegetable garden. They suppress weeds, add nitrogen, prevent erosion through wet BC winters, feed soil organisms, and significantly improve soil structure. They are easy to grow and require minimal care once established. Every productive vegetable garden benefits from them.

WHY USE COVER CROPS?

Benefits at a glance

• Add nitrogen back into the soil (legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen via root bacteria)

• Prevent soil erosion and compaction during BC's wet autumn and winter season

• Suppress weed growth, reducing spring weeding workload

• Feed earthworms when turned in; worm activity aerates soil and produces nutrient-rich castings

• Improve soil structure, drainage, and water-holding capacity over time

• Help break pest and disease cycles by keeping ground covered and biologically active

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COVER CROP

Which crop should you sow?

Legume + Rye Mix

Best for first-time users

• Legumes fix nitrogen, replenishing what last season's vegetables removed

• Rye is easy to germinate, fast to establish, and excellent at protecting soil structure

• Use this combination if you have not previously used cover crops or do not regularly apply compost or manure

Winter Rye Alone

Best for well-amended soils

• Best choice if your soil is already nutrient-rich from regular compost or manure additions

• No legume needed: nitrogen levels are already adequate

• Winter rye preserves existing nutrients and prevents runoff and erosion

Crimson Clover

Nitrogen fixer — excellent all-rounder

• One of the most popular and easy-to-use legume cover crops

• Fixes significant nitrogen; turns in easily with a fork or spade

• Also attracts beneficial insects when flowering; available in certified organic

• Best sown August to early September; turns in February to March

Fava Beans

Nitrogen fixer — ideal for winter

• Hardy legume that overwinters reliably on BC's South Coast

• Fixes large quantities of nitrogen; root nodules enrich deep soil layers

• Tall, robust growth provides excellent erosion control through wet winters

• Available in conventional and certified organic; sow September to October

Hairy Vetch

Nitrogen fixer — deep roots, high biomass

• Vigorous, vining legume that produces large amounts of nitrogen-rich biomass

• Excellent weed suppression due to dense, low-growing habit

• Very cold hardy; reliable overwinterer on the South Coast

• Available in conventional and certified organic

Fall Soil Builder Blend

Ready-made mix for convenience

• West Coast Seeds pre-mixed blend combining legumes and grasses

• Takes the guesswork out of mixing: balanced for nitrogen fixation and soil structure

• Ideal for first-time cover croppers who want a proven combination

• Simply broadcast, rake in lightly, and water

WEST COAST SEEDS AT GARDENWORKS

Our full cover crop seed range

GARDENWORKS carries a wide selection of West Coast Seeds cover crop varieties in-store, including certified organic options across most categories. The table below shows the full current range. Ask in-store for availability and recommendations for your specific garden situation.

WEST COAST SEEDS COVER CROP RANGE

Ask in-store for current availability or visit westcoastseeds.com/collections/cover-crops-seeds

Nitrogen Fixers (Legumes)	Grasses & Grains	Blends & Specialty
Crimson Clover	Fall Rye	Fall Soil Builder Blend
Crimson Clover Organic	Winter Wheat
Fava Beans	Oats
Fava Beans Organic	Barley
Hairy Vetch	Barley Organic
Hairy Vetch Organic	Perennial Ryegrass Organic
White Dutch Clover	Annual Ryegrass Organic
Klondike Ladino Clover Organic	Triticale Organic
Alsike Clover Organic
Winter Field Peas
Winter Field Peas Organic
Spring Field Peas Organic

CERTIFIED ORGANIC OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Many West Coast Seeds cover crops are available in certified organic versions, noted as 'Organic' in the table above. Organic seed is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Ask our team which organic options are currently in stock at your nearest GARDENWORKS location.

HOW TO PLANT

Sowing cover crops step by step

Step	Action
Prepare	Clear the bed of spent summer crops. Gently till or rake the soil surface to create a seedbed. Aim for a level, fine-textured surface.
Sow	Broadcast seeds evenly over the prepared soil surface. Do not over-seed: overcrowding causes competition for water and space, resulting in poor establishment.
Incorporate	Rake lightly over the surface to just cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Do not bury too deeply.
Water	Water well immediately after sowing, especially in late summer when soil is likely dry. Keep moist until seeds germinate and the crop is established.
Monitor	Allow the crop to grow until early spring, watering as needed. The goal is vigorous green growth before flowering: do not allow the crop to go to seed.
Turn In	In early spring, before the cover crop flowers, turn the entire crop into the soil with a spade or tiller. Ensure all green matter is buried and covered.
Rest	Allow the soil to rest for approximately 3 weeks after turning in. This gives the green matter time to break down and become available to your next crop before planting.

TIMING TIP

Sow cover crops in late summer to early autumn, once summer vegetables have been harvested and space becomes available. August to early September is the optimal window across most of BC's South Coast. The crop needs enough time to establish before cold weather slows growth.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ

Can I use cover crops in a raised bed or small garden?

Absolutely. Cover crops are just as effective in a 1 m raised bed as they are on a large market garden scale. Simply scale down the seed quantity proportionally and follow the same process. This is one of the best things you can do for a raised bed over winter.

When exactly should I turn the cover crop in?

Turn the crop in early spring, ideally before it begins to flower. In the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, this typically means February to March. In Penticton, where soils warm more slowly, late March to April is appropriate. Once the crop flowers and sets seed, it becomes much harder to incorporate and may self-seed prolifically.

Does cover cropping work for heavy clay soils?

Yes, and it is particularly beneficial. The root systems of cover crops physically break up compacted clay layers, improving drainage and aeration. Over several seasons of cover cropping combined with composting, clay-heavy soils improve dramatically. Winter rye is especially effective in heavy soils.

My cover crop did not germinate well. What went wrong?

The most common causes are sowing too late (not enough warmth for germination), sowing too deep (most cover crop seeds need to be barely covered), or sowing into soil that is too dry and failing to water adequately afterward. Aim for late summer sowing, light incorporation, and consistent moisture until germination.

What is the difference between conventional and organic cover crop seed?

Certified organic cover crop seed is produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers during seed production. For the purposes of soil improvement, both conventional and organic seed perform identically in your garden. Organic seed is the preferred choice for gardeners who want a fully organic growing system from the ground up. GARDENWORKS carries organic options from West Coast Seeds across most cover crop categories.