Edible cover crop

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The purpose of a cover crop is to keep the soil covered and add nutrients back into the soil.

I realize that a true cover crop involves specified plant varieties that return nutrients to the soil and need to be terminated before flowering to provide the greatest benefit, but I feel like their is an easier way to maintain healthy soil during the winter.

My goals were to keep the soil covered, have greens that will be unattractive to wildlife, withstand cold temps, and be something I want to harvest to eat. The added benefit of the crop going to flower to provide food for early season bess was an added bonus.

Mustards do really well for my southern, NC garden. Rabbits and deer don’t touch them, and they can handle temperature dips into the teens.

I like to sauté mustard greens in avocado oil and salt with a pinch of red pepper flakes.

I used two pre-made mixes, from @reneesgardenseeds and @pinetree_garden_seeds and then make up my own from several packs of seeds of different mustard varieties. I even through in some collards since they are so cold tolerant. Code EVERSPRING15 will give you 15% off your order. One time use, good through March 31, 2025.

I will definitely do this again next year. I didn’t have to start any seeds indoors and it doesn’t get any easier than just sprinkling seeds on the soil and watering in. I gave this mustard cover crop bed zero care all winter.