Organic tomato farming needs lots of nitrogen. Cover crops help, but usual methods using tillage can hurt the soil. This study tested different cover crops and tillage methods in California. Initially, less tillage meant more weeds and lower yields, due to nitrogen limitations. However, the second year showed no yield difference with reduced tillage, thanks to increased cover crop biomass and higher nitrogen levels. A grain/legume mix gave the most surface cover but not enough to control weeds. Using cover crops as temporary mulch, then incorporating them later, might be a cost-effective way to improve soil and reduce planting time.