Late Summer Legume Cover Crops for NY Growers

Content Source: Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Resource Explained

This guide, produced by Cornell University, provides information on late summer legume cover crops — including medium red clover and hairy vetch — for New York vegetable growers seeking to build nitrogen for the following season. It addresses crop selection, nurse crop use, seeding rates, costs, and spring management, noting that well-managed legumes can deliver the equivalent of 100–150 lb/ac of nitrogen fertilizer.

Region

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

Topic

Cropping Systems, Soil Health

Category

Grain and Field Crops

Year Published

2026

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