Best Cover Crops For Pacific Northwest. Theyre frost tolerant and have aggressive root systems that help break up. Their evergreen foliage is a great winter accent too.
Some of the best cover crops are ones in the pea family such as clover vetch or fava beans. Temperate Pacific Northwest gardens can direct sow crops like leeks lettuce kohlrabi green onions and Swiss chard. Hand-sow cover crops or use a whirlybird.
Wildflower Seed Wildflower Seed.
Why plant a cover crop. Grasses can include perennials but most grass cover crops are annuals such as annual ryegrass and cereal grains like rye wheat barley and oats. One of the Northwests most beautiful wildflowers lewisia bears charming pink red and white flowers in spring and summer. Flowering Cover crops such as crimson clover buckwheat alfalfa and mustard attract bees and beneficial insects that help with pollination and insect control in the garden.
