Gauteng Smallholder March 2016 | Page 29

IN THE FIELD The importance of winter cover crops As your summer crops and vegetables wind down it's time to turn your attention to planning for planting a winter cover crop. Cover crops are crops (grasses or legumes) planted between, or sometimes with, regular crops primarily to protect and improve the soil. Planting a winter cover crop is a great way to store solar energy through the off-season in your soil and build fertility for the following year. Depe