Cold-tolerant legume cover crop with sturdy upright stems and a substantial root system. Fava beans produce abundant nitrogen-rich biomass and, with the appropriate soil bacteria, fix atmospheric nitrogen. Their large roots help build soil organic matter and leave channels through the soil as they decompose. They are especially useful in Pacific Northwest gardens because they grow during our cool, wet season.
When to sow: Sow in fall for overwintering, generally September through October in Portland. They can also be planted in late winter or early spring.
How to terminate: Cut plants near ground level when they begin flowering and before beans mature. Leave the tops on the bed as mulch and leave the roots in the ground to decompose. Thick stems can be chopped into shorter pieces if you want them to break down faster.
From Territorial Seed Company. 99% germination rate.
Bean, Small Fava seed
How to Use Your Cover Crop & Native Seed Packets
Each seed packet is measured to cover 25 sq ft or 100 sq ft, depending on the size you chose.
Sowing Instructions
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When to sow: Fall is ideal in Portland. The soil is still warm for germination, and fall rains keep seedlings watered. Some seeds (like meadowfoam or clovers) can also be spring-sown.
How to sow:
- Rake the soil lightly to create good seed-to-soil contact.
- Scatter the contents of the packet evenly over the area (don’t worry about perfect spacing).
- Gently press or rake seeds in so they make contact with the soil. Do not bury deeply — most native and cover crop seeds need light to germinate.
- Water: Fall rains usually do the job, but water lightly if the weather turns dry.
What to Expect
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Traditional Cover Crops (rye, peas, fava, daikon, crimson clover, buckwheat, mustard): Grow quickly, protect soil, and build fertility. In spring, chop them down or mow before they set seed. Some (like rye) can also be crimped into a mulch.
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Living Mulches (red fescue, dwarf yarrow, creeping thyme, low clovers): These stay low and provide long-term weed suppression and ground cover. Shear lightly as needed, but they don’t require replanting every year.
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Pollinator Wildflowers (Clarkia, poppy, gilia, flax, meadowfoam, coneflower, blanketflower): Not classic cover crops, but they add beauty and attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Many reseed naturally.
Spring & Summer Management
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Chop-and-drop: Cut plants at the base and leave them as mulch (peas, fava, clovers).
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Mow: Use on ryegrass or cereals to turn them into quick mulch.
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Crimp: Flatten tall rye or grains at flowering to create a long-lasting weed barrier.
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Shear perennials: Yarrow, thyme, and sedges can be trimmed back after bloom.
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Self-seeders: Flowers like poppy, clarkia, and meadowfoam will often reseed themselves. Leave some seed heads if you want them back next year.
Quick Tips
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Cover crops = soil builders.
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Living mulches = weed suppressors.
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Wildflowers = pollinator magnets.
Tulle or row cover can protect young seedlings from birds and slugs until established.
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Understanding Pack Options
🌱 Planting Coverage Options
Planting coverage refers to the amount of seed needed to reliably plant a given area under typical Pacific Northwest conditions.
- 1 sq ft coverage = enough seed to plant approximately one square foot
- 5 sq ft coverage = enough seed to plant approximately five square feet
Coverage is based on recommended spacing, expected germination, and normal thinning, not exact seed counts and not final plant size.
For some crops (especially tomatoes, squash, and other large plants), seeds are intended to be started in pots and later transplanted. In those cases, coverage reflects the number of starts most gardeners need, rather than the space mature plants will occupy.