Cover Crop Uses

Uses Seed

Farm seed is a large assortment of beneficial crops that are used commonly amongst farmers and gardeners. Most commonly these crops help increase Nitrogen fixation, suppress weeds, attract bees, add organic matter, forage benefits, and provide no till foliage. These methods of farming have been becoming increasingly popular as organic farming methods have seen a resurgence. Not only are these crops beneficial to the farmer but they put less burden on the environment.

The Big Boy Purplehull is a high yielding, popular Southern cowpea that is great for home gardens. Big Boy Purplehull is a long podded variety with 13-16 peas per pod that are light tan in color and oblong shape. This is a good garden variety and is very prolific. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

Lady is the smallest and most tender Southern cowpea on the market. This cowpea variety is a popular and hard to find southern cowpea. Lady is excellent freshly cooked and very tender. The short plants are great for small gardens, and yields are high. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

The Quickpick Pinkeye cowpea is a bush type southern cowpea with early maturity and good disease resistance. This variety is a pinkeye Purplehull type variety that is determinate, erect, compact (reach about 20 inches), and non-vining. This cowpea gets its name, Quickpick, because it matures in about 60 days. The pods are dark-purple and about seven to eight inches long containing nine to eleven, kidney-shaped seeds with large, maroon colored eyes. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

The Sideoats Grama is a warm-season bunchgrass grain variety that is easy to grow and native throughout much of North America. The ornamental and distinctive seed spikes hang from only one side of the stalk, and these make good fresh or dried cuttings. This grain prefers full sun and moderate to dry soils. The Sideoats Grama is recommended for meadow and prairie plantings, beds & borders, and as a component of forage mixes for livestock and wildlife.

The Dimpled Brown Crowder is an excellent cowpea for canning, freezing or drying. The Dimpled Brown Crowder Cowpea is a prolific yielder with pods that contain 12-15 peas that are closely bunched together. If you are using this variety for Nitrogen fixation, we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.

Switchgrass is a rhizomatous, warm-season bunchgrass that is native throughout most of the U.S. It is a major component of the Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem. Alamo originates from Live Oak County, Texas. It is late maturing and was developed as a renewable biofuel resource for the southern U.S. Recommended for pasture mixes, erosion control and soil stabilization. It also provides good nesting habitat, cover and food for many different types of wildlife.

Developed in the mid-1970s by the Polish Plant Breeding Institute in Poznan, Danko Rye was bred specifically for milling high-quality flour used in traditional European-style baking. This hardy winter rye produces large, plump berries that are also prized by brewers and distillers for their rich character and performance as a whole grain. Known for its bold, complex flavor, Danko Rye brings deep, spicy notes and a dense, hearty texture to breads. It offers excellent baking qualities, including strong gluten strength for rye, which helps loaves hold their shape—an important trait for artisan bakers. Its distinctive taste and versatility have made it a trusted favorite for both baking and craft distilling.

The Zipper Cream cowpeas are very easy to grow and are a tasty Southern favorite! This variety produces bushy 2-3' plants that bear heavy yields. The 6-9" large pods have large, creamy-white seeds. There are 18-20 seeds per pod. The Zipper Cream is an easy to shell cowpea. Treated Seed.

The Sadandy cowpea is a heavy yielding Southern pea great for fresh shelling. The Sadandy variety is very similarly to 'Texas Cream' but the peas are slightly smaller. These bush-type plants are prolific and thrive in hotter, Southern weather. The Sadandy is a "cream pea" type variety, they are generally used at the fresh shelling stage. If you are using for Nitrogen fixation we highly recommend using a cowpea inoculant.

The Black Crowder cowpea is a high yielding variety of long pods. The cowpeas themselves have a deep purple color when first shelled which then turn black when dried. The Black Crowder's green pods are easy to shell. Try with cowpea inoculant for maximum Nitrogen fixation.