Land Preparation

Prepare a seed bed free of clods and of weeds. If tillage is impossible, rye can be broadcast on moist, untilled ground. Additional fertilizer is usually not needed, especially when following vegetables.

Seeding Rate

Date	Drill	Broadcast
9/15	60	85 lb/ac
9/22	100	140
10/1	140	200
10/15	180	250

Drill 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. After broadcasting, cover 1 inch deep. Rye is often mixed with legumes as a nurse crop. In fall, use 70 lb/ac rye with 20-25 lb/ac hairy vetch. In the spring, use 60 lb/ac rye with 15 lb/ac medium red clover.

Seed Cost

2024 price: $0.28-0.40/lb

Seeding Dates

September 15 – October 10 for winter cover. Early plantings recover more nutrients and build soil better. See separate article about rye before spring-seeded vegetables. By October 15 for spring cover, but no value as winter cover. April 15 as a nurse crop for clover. See the tool to find the planting date likelihood for your location.

Time Until Control

When growth resumes in spring (3-6 inches; April). For mulched no-till soybeans, roll at anthesis (mid to late May)

Seed Suppliers

Local seed dealers, Seedway, AgriCulver, local farmers (if the seed is weed-free and high germination).

Management Tricks

Control on time, leave 2-3 weeks between incorporation and replanting. Can be mixed with hairy vetch and red clover.

Unavoidable Problems

Can suppress following crop.

Avoidable Problems

Becomes too big and fibrous if left too long. Rainy spring may prevent timely control.

Classic Uses

Winter cover after late vegetables or soybeans. Rye has a late window of opportunity, often when it is too late for other cover crops.

Maintenance

None.

Control

Control early. Crop suppression is least if rye is killed with herbicide (e.g. 1 lb/ac glyphosate) when it is about 6 inches tall, and allowed to decompose for 3-4 weeks. Without herbicide, plow down at 4 to 8 inches tall. Wet, warm spring weather can cause quick growth and make incorporation difficult. For later control mow, or roll and crimp, during the brief period after all the tillers are past the boot stage but before the plants have headed out. This last method has high risk of crop suppression. See separate article about rye before spring-seeded vegetables.

Tips

Some crops are suppressed following the incorporation of rye, either from allelopathy or nutrient tie-up. Wait at least two weeks after incorporation before replanting vegetables. Wheat may be preferred as a cover crop to reduce this risk.