Cover Crop / Cool season

Winter Rye Cover Crop

Late fall cover before summer crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash.

Grown for overwintering soil cover.

Seed spacing and maturity

Days to maturity
180
Germination temperature
34-75F
Seed depth
1 inches
Spacing
2 inches
Row spacing
6 inches
Start method
Direct sow

Frost-date timing

Direct sow
28 days before last frost
Fall planting
6 weeks before first frost

Growing profile

Sun
Full sun
Water
Usually relies on cool-season moisture after establishment.
Soil
Tolerates many garden soils.
Watch
Plan termination before planting vegetables; rye resumes growth in spring.
  • cover-crop
  • overwintering
  • erosion-control
  • grass

Browse context

Related varieties

Source: Wisconsin Extension cover crops and green manures