Urban Farmer Advanced Planning Tool

Compare cover crops before you build the mix.

Filter all 20 crop groups, compare up to four in one clear matrix, and enter the exact pounds of each crop to visualize the mixture’s benefit profile.

Open comparison chart ↓Back to Learning Center →

Searchable comparison chart

Filter, sort, and select the strongest candidates

Rates are full-stand planning ranges. Choose crops by function and rotation fit before comparing seed quantity.

Compare Life cycle Depth Winter behavior Water Inoculant Forage / wildlife
AfAlfalfa Legume Cool Perennial 15–20 lb/ac ¼–½ in Overwinters High Yes Difficult Excellent
ArAnnual Ryegrass Grass Cool Annual–biennial 10–20 lb/ac ¼–½ in Often overwinters Medium No Difficult Excellent
BaBarley Grass Cool Annual 60–90 lb/ac ¾–2 in Variety dependent Medium No Moderate Excellent
BwBuckwheat Broadleaf Warm Annual 50–60 lb/ac ½–1 in Frost killed Medium No Easy Limited
CrCereal Rye Grass Cool Winter annual 60–90 lb/ac ¾–1½ in Very hardy Medium No Difficult Excellent
ClClover Legume Cool Annual–perennial 4–15 lb/ac ⅛–½ in Type dependent Medium Yes Moderate Excellent
ChCover Crop Chicory Broadleaf Cool Biennial 3–5 lb/ac ¼–½ in Persistent crown Low–medium No Difficult Excellent
CpCover Crop Cowpeas Legume Warm Annual 18–30 lb/ac 1–1½ in Frost killed Low–medium Yes Easy Good
FxCover Crop Flax Broadleaf Cool Annual 30–50 lb/ac ½–1 in Usually winterkills Low–medium No Easy Limited
MxCover Crop Mixes Mixture Variable Variable Varies By component By component Variable By component Plan carefully Variable
OaCover Crop Oats Grass Cool Annual 50–100 lb/ac ½–1½ in Usually winterkills Medium No Easy Excellent
RdCover Crop Radish Brassica Cool Annual 4–6 lb/ac ¼–½ in Climate dependent Medium No Easy Good
TuCover Crop Turnips Brassica Cool Annual 3–5 lb/ac ¼–½ in Climate dependent Medium No Easy–moderate Excellent
FbForage Brassica Brassica Cool Annual 4–6 lb/ac ¼–½ in Type dependent Medium No Easy–moderate Excellent
HvHairy Vetch Legume Cool Winter annual 15–20 lb/ac ½–1½ in Winter hardy Medium Yes Difficult Good
SsSorghum-Sudangrass Grass Warm Annual 20–35 lb/ac ½–1½ in Frost killed High No Moderate Excellent*
SfSunflower Broadleaf Warm Annual 3–7 lb/ac ½–1½ in Frost killed High No Moderate Wildlife
ShSunn Hemp Legume Warm Annual 25–50 lb/ac ½–1 in Frost killed Medium Yes Easy early Managed use*
WhWinter & Ancient Wheat Grass Cool Winter annual/grain 60–120 lb/ac ½–1½ in Winter hardy Medium No Moderate Good
PeWinter & Field Peas Legume Cool Annual 50–100 lb/ac 1–2 in Type & climate dependent Medium Yes Easy–moderate Excellent
0 selected (maximum 4)

Comparison matrix

Your selected crops

Choose two to four crops in the chart. Each trait becomes a row so differences are easier to scan across crops.

No comparison opened yet.

Mixture seed calculator

Build the mix for your plot

Choose square feet or acres, enter the plot size, then add exactly how many pounds of each crop you want. Coverage guidance, totals, proportions, and benefits update automatically.

You control every pound.

Add or reduce any crop to see how it changes plot coverage, mixture weight, and functional profile.

  • Enter the size of the planting area.
  • Add pounds directly beside each crop.
  • See whether the amount is too low, in range, or too high.
  • Adjust amounts while watching the benefit bars.

The coverage range is estimated from each selected crop’s published full seeding-rate range and its share of this mixture.

AfAlfalfaLegume · Nitrogen, Compaction, Forage
0%
ArAnnual RyegrassGrass · Erosion, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
BaBarleyGrass · Erosion, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
BwBuckwheatBroadleaf · Quick cover, Weeds, Pollinators
0%
CrCereal RyeGrass · Erosion, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
ClCloverLegume · Nitrogen, Erosion, Forage
0%
ChCover Crop ChicoryBroadleaf · Compaction, Nutrient capture, Forage
0%
CpCover Crop CowpeasLegume · Nitrogen, Weeds, Forage
0%
FxCover Crop FlaxBroadleaf · Erosion, Pollinators, Nutrient capture
0%
OaCover Crop OatsGrass · Erosion, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
RdCover Crop RadishBrassica · Compaction, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
TuCover Crop TurnipsBrassica · Compaction, Nutrient capture, Forage
0%
FbForage BrassicaBrassica · Compaction, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
HvHairy VetchLegume · Nitrogen, Erosion, Weeds
0%
SsSorghum-SudangrassGrass · Quick cover, Weeds, Compaction
0%
SfSunflowerBroadleaf · Compaction, Nutrient capture, Pollinators
0%
ShSunn HempLegume · Nitrogen, Quick cover, Weeds
0%
WhWinter & Ancient WheatGrass · Erosion, Nutrient capture, Weeds
0%
PeWinter & Field PeasLegume · Nitrogen, Weeds, Forage
0%
Total mixture weight0 lb

Plot coverage checkAdd crop amounts

Enter pounds for at least one crop to calculate coverage for this plot.

Benefit profile by share of seed weight

Bars rise or fall as you change the pounds assigned to crops associated with each function.

Example: a 60% erosion-control bar means 60% of the mix’s total seed weight comes from crops tagged for erosion control. It does not mean the mix provides 60% erosion control.
Important: This comparison tool is a planning aid, not a prescription. Local planting dates, germination, seed size, climate, soil moisture, equipment, conservation-program rules, grazing safety, following crops, and pest-host relationships can change the correct rate and species choice. Open every selected crop’s guide before ordering or planting. *Forage and nematode claims require crop-, variety-, livestock-, pest-, and growth-stage-specific management.