Cover crops, also called green manure, are widely used in rotation with vegetables or field crops as a reseeding cover crop between rows in vineyards, berries, and fruit and nut orchards. Legumes, such as commonly used Crimson Clover are nitrogen “fixers.” Beneficial bacteria in legume root nodules take nitrogen from the air and supply it to the plant. When the cover crop decomposes, some of the nitrogen becomes available to other plants.
Benefits of using crimson clover as a cover crop include:
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Improve Soil Quality
- Weed Suppression
- Erosion Control
- Attracts Beneficial Insects
- Builds Soil Organic Matter
- Increases Moisture Holding Capacity
- Reseeding potential in perennial systems
More than 95% of crimson clover seed in the United States is produced in western Oregon. The clover seeds grown in Oregon are primarily red, crimson, arrowleaf, and white or Ladino. Red, crimson, and arrowleaf clover seed is grown mostly in the north valley, Washington, Yamhill, and Polk counties. All that’s needed is to seed it in, water a couple of times until the rains start, it’s left through winter and dug or tilled in the spring.
Few sights are more vibrant and beautiful than blankets of blooming crimson clover across the landscape. Take a scenic drive along the backroads in search of the Crimson Clover Fields now through July. Better yet, get an insider tip from your hosts at a Willamette Valley Indepedent Inns.
Oregon Association of Independent Inns are ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved member of the Oregon Association of Independent Inns.
Since 1989, the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild has served as a statewide information network for its member properties, providing a unified voice for the industry with state regulatory and tourism agencies.
Now known as The Oregon Association of Independent Inns, we’re the same trusted organization, with a new name, a fresh look, and an expanded focus on independent lodging properties beyond traditional bed and breakfasts. Member properties represent a wide range of accommodations, from small guest cottages, cabins, and intimate two-room B&Bs to larger country inns, boutique hotels and dude ranches.
