Barley (Robust) Organic Cover Crop Seed

What they do

Spring barley, oats and spring wheat grow fast and cover the ground in cool weather, holding soil in place, crowding out weeds and adding organic matter. They also make a good nurse crop for slow starters such as clover, or can be grown on for an edible grain harvest.

Sowing

Drill or push-seed at 3/4–1½" deep. Seed can also be broadcast at a somewhat heavier rate and then raked, lightly harrowed or rolled in. These grains like cool spring and fall weather, and in cool regions they can be sown in summer too.

Timing

As a fall cover, sow by early September in the North and a little later farther south; the plants winter-kill. For grain, sow early, about four weeks before the last spring frost, so the heads have time to ripen by late summer. Spring grains need no cold period to make seed.

Seeding rate

Use the low end of the range when drilling or when underseeding a legume, and the high end when broadcasting, in poor conditions or for a dense winter-killed mulch. Barley: about 2 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft. (60–125 lb. per acre). Oats: about 4 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft. (100–140 lb. per acre). Spring wheat: 2–3 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft. (60–150 lb. per acre). Sow lighter for grain in dry areas.

Light

Full sun.

Soil

Barley likes light, moderately fertile ground at pH 6.0–8.5 and copes with salty or alkaline soil, but not wet or acid soil. Oats do well in dry, free-draining, poor to average ground at pH 5.0–6.5 and handle drought. Spring wheat wants dry, free-draining, average soil and dislikes clay.

Plant height

Varies by variety; see the description above.

Grain harvest

Wait until plants have turned brown and the kernels are past the milky stage and firm (hard dough). Combine, or cut and stack in bundles to finish drying, then thresh and winnow before storing.

Ornamental use

Cut stems when the heads are full but still green and fresh.

Termination

Tilling works well any time before the heads emerge; after that it gets harder and may take several passes. Once pollen is shedding, mowing or roller-crimping lays down a thick mulch. Watch for regrowth, and cover the mowed crop with a tarp to finish it off and speed breakdown.

Seeds per lb.

About 12,900 on average.