LEGUMES
AUSTRIAN WINTER PEAS- Pisum arvense This ground-hugging pea germinates and grows in cooler soils than most legumes and withstands temps to at least 00F. It is a good weed competitor, does well in heavy soils, and fixes 70-125 lb. of Nitrogen/acre. Austrian winter peas are also a good protein source in forage mixtures and attracts beneficial insects to the growing area. (Pea Vetch inoculant is recommended) Seeding rate: 2-4 lbs per 1000 sqft or 80-120 lbs per acre.
BELL BEAN- Vivia faba Actually a member of the vetch family, this small-seeded variety of the fava bean is a vigorous, adaptable legume. It is often mixed with peas, vetch & oats for a cover cropping, or with grasses and other legumes for forage or silage. It produces good organic matter (grows 3’-6’ tall) and fixes 150 lb. of Nitrogen/acre on fertile soils with inoculate. The abundant black & white blossoms are fragrant and attract many beneficial insects early in the season. (Pea Vetch inoculant is recommended) Seeding rate: 2-4 lbs per 1000 sqft or 80-125 lbs per acre.
CRIMSON CLOVER- Trifolium incarnatum This is the showiest of all the clovers with 2” bright crimson spikes on 18” plants. Because of its beauty, cold and shade tolerance, and reseeding ability, it is often used in landscaping and erosion control. It fixes 80 lb. of Nitrogen / acre, and is used as a cover crop in grain rather than row crop rotations because it matures late. The seeds are Rhizocoated with bacterial inoculant. Seeding rate: 1/2 to 1 lbs per 1000 sqft or 20-40 lbs per acre.
DUTCH WHITE CLOVER- Trifolium repens A low-growing perennial clover often used in lawn grass mix. (1# Dutch clover to 5# turf seed) Useful for it’s deep rooting, soil building ability. It takes nitrogen from the air and puts it into the soil through root bacteria action. The seed is coated with the appropriate bacteria inoculant. The lush cover of three-part leaves can handle foot traffic, but can stain clothes, and the small round white flowers can attract bees. Seeding rate: 1/4 to 1/2 lb per 1000 sqft or 10-20 lbs per acre.
PURPLE VETCH- Vicia atropurpurea The most vigorous vetch, with consistently high yields in areas which do not drop below 200F. It can be planted year-round in mild climates and tolerates mowing or grazing, and is valued as a green manure, honey plant, weed competitor and forage. Great when mixed with Bell bean, onto which it will climb well. (Pea Vetch inoculant is recommended) Seeding rate: 1-2 lbs per 1000 sqft or 40-80 lbs per acre.
ROSE CLOVER- Trifolium hirtum This reseeding annual thrives in the harsh conditions of poor, rocky hard soils with low rainfall. Rose clovers are great pioneers, but other clovers will out-compete them when soil quality improves. They are moderate Nitrogen fixers (75-100 lb./acre), grow to 18”, and are commonly used in vineyards, wildlife plantings and rangelands. The beautiful dusty rose blossoms are attractive to bees and beneficials and produce a palatable high protein feed. The seeds are Rhizocoated with bacterial inoculant. Seeding rate: 1/4 to 1/2 lb per 1000 sqft or 10-20 lbs per acre,
CEREAL GRAINS
BARLEY- Hordeum vulgare Barley is a cool season, annual cereal grain that can survive with minimal water inputs. When planted as a cover crop, barley’s deep, fibrous root system can provide excellent erosion control that can help to hold a hillside in place, or to retain valuable top soil in times of drought. The quick growth habit also makes this grain ideal for weed suppression, as it will out-compete and smother unwanted plants. Barley is also planted in fallowed soils as a way to provide a large amount of green manure, or, biomass into the soil. Seeding rate: 2 lbs per 1000 sqft or 85 lbs per acre.
OAT- Avena sativa Another cool season cereal grain, oats are quick and economical to grow. Well-suited to moist or irrigated soils, and are generally not happy in warm dry growing situations. Oats have an extensive root system that can help to break up hard soils and when cut down or left to die out, will leave a lot of organic matter in the soil, this will help to improve the soil tilth and water holding capabilities. Quick germinating oats are an excellent addition to legume-based cover crop mixes, as they will help to nurse the slower developing legumes such as vetch and peas, while increasing green bio-mass. Seeding rate: 3-4 lbs per 1000 sqft or 150 lbs per acre.
WHEAT- Triticum aestivum Planted as a fall/ winter cover crop, wheat has a large, deep growing root system, that can be used for erosion control, as a weed suppressant and as a scavenger for excess soil nutrients that are located, absorbed and brought up closer to the soil surface where they are then available for the following growing season. Wheat also provides a spring grazing option, before it is cut down or tilled into the soil. Can be planted with legumes to serve as a nurse crop and to increase biomass. Seeding rate: 4 lbs per 1000 sqft or 120 -140 lbs per acre.
GRASSES
BLANDO BROMEGRASS- Bromus mollis Blando Brome is the most used seed for erosion control, forage production and wildfire seeding. It is easily established, has an extensive root system, outstanding reseeding ability and grows well on low fertility sites. Although it does not fix nitrogen it is an excellent annual cover crop for orchards and vineyards because it withstands mowing and minimal watering. Seeding rate: 1/4 to 1/2 lb per 1000 sqft or 15 to 25 lbs per acre.
FESCUE, CREEPING RED- Festuca rubra
FESCUE, SEMI-DWARF BLEND LAWN- The semi-dwarf varieties included in the Pacific Vista Blend provide the durability inherent in tall fescues, with a finer leaf texture and darker green color than older, traditional varieties. They do well in full sun or shade with moderate watering. Can be mixed 5:1 with Dutch White Clover for soil building effect. These varieties are endophyte enhanced to give increased resistance to leaf spot, brown patch and other fungal diseases. Common Park turf. Seeding rate: 1-1.5 lbs per 1000 sqft or 40-60 lbs per acre.
RYEGRESS, ANNUAL- Lolium multiflorum Ryegrass is often used for quick cover or erosion control because it germinates and grows quickly in cool weather, competes well with weeds, and opens and stabilizes the soil with its extensive, fibrous root system. When used for cover crop or pasture, Ryegrass is usually mixed with annual legumes for Nitrogen fixation and improved palatability. Also used to green up dormant winter turf. Seeding rate: 1/2 to 1 lb per 1000 sqft or 25-50 lbs per acre.
RYEGRASS, PERENNIAL- Lolium perenne fastrack An important cool-season bunchgrass well adapted to coastal climate. Widely used in mixtures for pasture, erosion control, and lawn and play fields. Grows best in cool, moist regions with mild winters. It grows well in heavy soils and handles mowing and heavy sport or foot traffic. Seeding rate: 1/2 to 1 lb per 1000 sqft or 25-50 lbs per acre.
SUMMER COVERCROPS
BENEFICIAL BLEND- This blend of more than 20 beneficial insect harboring plants provides a long bloom period of habitat for a wide variety of predator insects. Also contains some sacrificial plants that will attract the aphids and other pest populations. Use around perimeter of garden or in small areas near orchards or rose gardens. Just toss this mix around the edges of any landscape and watch the positive effects of diversity in plant & insect specie. Contains the following species: White yarrow, Calendula, Bachelor Buttons, Mountain Garland, Chinese Houses, Coriander, California Poppy, Baby’s Breath, Goldfields, Blue Flax, Sweet Alyssum, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Arroyo Lupine, Gopher Stopper, Crimson Clover. Seeding rate: 1 TBS covers 25-30 sq ft, 1 pound per 4000 sq ft.
BUCKWHEAT- Fagopyrum esculentum This non-legume broadleaf does not fix Nitrogen but it is one of the best hot weather cover crops because of its ability to produce organic matter & smother summer weeds quickly. It also accumulates insoluble phosphorus and, when turned under, releases it to the soil in plant-available form. It grows to maturity in 30-45 days reaching from 8” to 3’ tall. A great beneficial insect attractant. Seeding rate: 1 to 1.5 lbs per 1000 sqft or 45-65 lbs per acre.