Cover Crops – Hairy Vetch

Vicia villosa.Hardy Annual. This nitrogen fixer is a lanky and sprawling, but versatile legume that is fairly tolerant of acid soils and light shade. It can be mowed down in spring to supply good mulch. Hardy to Zone 4: -34C (-30F). 500g covers approximately 145 m2 (1,560 ft). Sow Hairy Vetch cover crop seeds from early March to mid-April, and again August to mid-September.

NOTE:Hairy Vetch seeds are toxic to chickens, so plant out of the way of foraging flocks or cut the vetch while it is just flowering.

(Open-pollinated seeds)