Teff - Key Growing Information
Uses: Teff grows fast and thick enough to crowd out summer annual weeds. It handles heat and drought well, making it a good choice for midsummer sowing, and it tolerates mowing, so it works as a living mulch between plastic-covered beds.
Culture: Teff needs a firm seedbed: roll or press the soil with a cultipacker, then broadcast seed on the surface. With a grain drill, set the depth to ¼" or less and ease off the down pressure. As a warm-season grass, it should go in once the soil reaches 65°F (18°C). The tiny seed is coated, and mixing it with a carrier such as rice hulls or sand helps spread it evenly.
Seeding Rate: ¼ lb. per 1,000 sq. ft.; 8–12 lb. per acre.
Light/Soil Requirements: Teff likes a firm seedbed and a pH of 6.0–6.5. It adapts to many soils but prefers loose, well-drained ground.
Height: 24–36"
Harvest: Fine stems and good palatability make teff a good hay crop, and because it regrows quickly, you can expect several cuttings a season in good conditions.
Termination: Teff can't survive frost, so it winter-kills reliably. Tilling works but may take several passes and gets less effective as the crop matures. Tarping for 2–3 weeks also kills it well.
