Teff Cover Crop Seed

A quick summer grass for weed control and living mulch.

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a fine-stemmed, warm-season annual grass. Sown thickly into warm soil, it forms a dense stand that crowds out summer annual weeds, and it handles dry spells better than buckwheat or sudangrass.

It takes regular mowing and foot traffic, so it works as a living mulch between plastic-covered beds. Teff is killed by frost and rarely sets seed in a cover-crop planting, so volunteers are not a worry, and the fine residue breaks down quickly with or without tillage. It also makes good hay.

Growing notes

• Sow from late spring to midsummer, once soil is at least 65°F (18°C).
• Firm the seedbed well (roll or cultipack) and sow 1/8–1/4" deep. Broadcast, then roll to press the seed in.
• Rate: about 8–10 lb. of coated seed per acre (roughly 1/4 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft.); use the higher end where moisture is uneven or for a living mulch.
• The seed is tiny and coated; mixing it with sand or rice hulls helps spread it evenly.
• Mow to 3–4" every 7–8 weeks to keep it from heading. Plants reach about 24–36" if left unmown.
• Ends with the first frost; tarping for 2–3 weeks also ends it.

Specs

• Sold by weight (5, 25 and 50 lb.).