Pollinator Cover Crop
Fast-growing green manure that feeds bees and builds soil
Empty soil is wasted soil. This fast-growing annual mix turns bare ground into pollinator habitat and soil-building green manure in as little as six weeks.
The blend combines nitrogen-fixing legumes (crimson clover, field beans) with deep-rooted organic matter builders (phacelia, buckwheat, mustard) and fast-flowering bee plants. Sow it between crop rotations, on resting vegetable beds, or on fallow land under ACRES.
When you're ready to plant your next crop, simply mow or dig the cover crop into the soil. It breaks down rapidly, releasing nitrogen and organic matter that feeds your next planting. The deep roots of phacelia and buckwheat break up compacted soil, improving drainage and structure.
This is modernised fallow — land that's resting but still working. It builds soil, feeds pollinators, suppresses weeds, and looks better than bare earth. ACRES-eligible as a biodiversity action on fallow ground.
Species Included
Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum), White Mustard (Sinapis alba), Field Beans (Vicia faba minor), Borage (Borago officinalis)
Sowing Instructions
Sow April–August on any cultivated ground. Broadcast at 5–8g per sq m on prepared soil. Rake in lightly. No sand mixing needed — these are larger seeds. Flowers within 6–8 weeks. Dig in or mow before your next crop, or before first frost. Can be left to overwinter as ground cover if no crop follows.
You May Also Like
