When it comes to permaculture, gardening is a key component. If you’re new to the homesteading game, you may be wondering what kind of cover crops are best for your permaculture garden. It’s time to put down the trowel and read up on some of the best cover crops for your garden!
Why You Should Use Cover Crops
Cover crops protect topsoil from erosion and keep weeds away, while also providing organic matter to enrich the soil. A few of our favorite cover crops include clover, peas, fava beans and lentils. These plants can fix nitrogen in the soil and provide beneficial bacteria that helps make nutrients more accessible to other plants growing nearby.
Clover
Clover is an excellent cover crop because it can grow in almost any climate or soil condition and is a great source of nitrogen. It also has deep roots that help loosen compacted soils and suppress weeds. Clover is a popular choice among homesteaders because it grows quickly and vigorously, so you don’t have to wait long before planting something else in its place.
Fava Beans
Fava beans are another popular choice for cover crops because they are hardy and easy to grow. They help build up organic matter in the soil as well as suppress weed growth and provide nitrogen-rich fertilizer when turned over into the soil at the end of their growing season. Fava beans grow quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long before planting your next crop in its place.
Lentils
Lentils are a type of legume that grows easily in most climates with minimal care required from the gardener; they do not require much water or fertilizer and will even produce nitrogen-rich fertilizer when turned over into the soil at the end of their growing season. Lentils also have deep roots which help break up compacted soils while suppressing weeds – making them perfect for permaculture gardens! Plus, they taste delicious when cooked properly!
To Sum it Up
Cover crops are an important part of permaculture gardening because they protect topsoil from erosion and keep weeds away while adding beneficial bacteria that helps make nutrients more accessible to other plants growing nearby. We recommend trying out clover, peas, fava beans or lentils when selecting your next cover crop; each one offers unique benefits that will help create a robust environment for all your other plants in your garden! Happy planting!