Q.Cover Crops
What is a cereal rye cover crop and when do I plant it?
A.
Cereal rye (Secale cereale) is a winter-hardy grain grown as a fall-planted cover crop that overwinters and resumes growth in spring. Plant in fall (September-November depending on region), let it grow through winter and early spring, then terminate before cash crop planting. Excellent for weed suppression, biomass, and erosion control.
Crop calendar pages cover state-specific cereal rye timing.