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BROADLEAVES

Buckwheat Sunflowers
Buckwheat is a fast-establishing warm season crop that can Black oilseed sunflowers are renowned for their extensive and
be utilized in a wide array of mixtures to suppress weeds by prolific root system and their ability to soak up residual nu-
getting the soil covered quickly. If you need a workhorse trients out of reach for other commonly used covers or crops.
to attract beneficial insects and pollinators, buckwheat fills Because insects are attracted to their extra floral nectaries and
this role exceptionally well. Rapid flowering and seed set the bright colors of sunflower heads, pollinators and benefi-
provide a valuable source of food for wildlife. Buckwheat is cials such as bees, damsel bugs, lacewings, hoverflies, minute
also a very valuable phosphorus source as its root exudates pirate bugs, and non-stinging parasitoid wasps are often
can extract phosphorus from the soil that is not available found in fields of sunflower and in following crops. With their
to many other crops. When cycled, this phosphorus is then upright growth and well anchored root system, sunflowers act
available for the next crop. as a trellis for surrounding vining/climbing cover crop plants
to reach sunlight. Because sunflowers can add significant bio-
mass production in just a short growing season, they can also
serve as additional forage for livestock and are preferentially
grazed when younger. For less than $1 per acre, sunflowers
should be a part of almost any cover crop mix.

Warm Season Seeds Per Cold Kill Drought Biomass Forage Salinity
Broadleaves Pound °F Tolerance Production Quality Tolerance Comments
Sunflower (Black Oil) 8,000 28 Inexpensive taproots

Okra (Clemson) 7,200 32 Very deep rooted
Squash/Pumpkins/Melons 4,000 32 Fast growing

Safflower (Baldy) 15,000 24 Spineless and grazable
Buckwheat (Mancan) 18,000 32 Very fast growing

Cool Season Seeds Per Cold Kill Drought Biomass Forage Salinity
Broadleaves Pound °F Tolerance Production Quality Tolerance Comments

Flax (Golden) 80,000 20 Great host for mycorrhizal fungi
Sugar Beets - Non GMO 10,000 25 Great for grazing
Phacelia (SuperBee) 225,000 25 Fantastic pollinator attractor
Chicory - perennial (Endure) 400,000 -10 Mineral accumulator

Plantain - perennial (Boston) 200,000 -10 Mineral accumulator
Small Burnett (Delar) 18,000 -10 Deep rooted forb

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