Cornell University has put together an excellent online guide called “Cover Crops for Vegetable Growers” (update—now “Cover Crop Guide for NY Growers”). While the information is tailored to conditions in New York, this site is still an excellent resource for Kansas country families.
Some useful general information comes first:
- Reasons to consider planting a cover crop.
- How to use cover crops to promote soil health.
- Selecting the right cover crop for the season.
A handy decision tool helps you easily select and compare the cover crops that will work best for you based on management goals, planting time, and length of time the crop can stay in the field (remember to adjust the information to fit your frost dates).
But the centerpiece of the site is the guide to 17 cover crops useful to vegetable growers. Each entry contains tips on planting, maintaining, and controlling the crops.
The information is concise and the site easy to use. Kansas growers will have to make some adjustments, but “Cover Crops for Vegetable Growers” is still a highly recommended resource.
Homestead on the Range 