Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix

Thirteen species blend for biomass and soil health

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A unique blend of 13 species which combines all the benefits of cover cropping including those that provide high levels of biomass, nitrogen fixing legumes, soil improvers that improve soil health as well as species that attract beneficial insects. Winter Cover Crop Plus provides protection for bare soil creating biodiversity and benefits the environment. It is suited to a wide range of soil types and conditions and can be mulched, incorporated into the soil and grazed. Biological BioNPK S Coated. ECOCERT APPROVED.

Key attributes

  • Blend of thirteen complementary species
  • High biomass for winter ground cover
  • Nitrogen fixing legumes included
  • Species that improve soil structure
  • Attracts beneficial insects
  • Suits a wide range of soils

Mix components

Formulation 2025

Component
Parafield Peas & Common Vetch
Parafield Peas and Common Vetch are nitrogen fixing legumes that has a strong root structure and provide a high level of biomass.
Field Peas & Common Vetch
Field Peas and Common Vetch are nitrogen fixing legumes that has a strong root structure and provide a high level of biomass.
Icon Lucerne (7)
Icon Lucerne is a perennial legume that has a deep root system producing high levels of biomass and flowers that attract beneficial insects.
Cereal Rye is fast to establish and provides high levels of biomass. With its extensive fibrous root system, it absorbs unused nitrogen in the soil and increases the concentration of exchangeable potassium near the soil surface.
Amass Italian Ryegrass is quick to establish and competes well with the different species to produce a high level of biomass and with its deep root system provides access for the other species in the mix to follow the roots down deeper for nutrients and moisture, especially if there are compaction problems in the soil.
Safeguard is an Annual Diploid Ryegrass that is fast maturing has a strong root system providing good biomass above and below the soil surface. An additional benefit is it is ARGT Resistant.
Saia Oats | , highly productive that is fast establishing and produces high levels of biomass. Excellent producer of organic matter and carbon since also has an extensive root system. Also helps to control some nematodes.
Oats
Oats is highly productive, fast establishing and produces high levels of biomass. Excellent producer of organic matter and carbon since also has an extensive root system. Can assist in control some nematodes.
Riverina Subterranean Clovers will produce across a wide range of soils and is nitrogen fixing. With its upright growth habit, it provides a good addition to the mix to further increase biomass levels.
Hobson Forage brassica
Hobson Forage Brassica with their large leaf area and rapid growth are good for weed suppression and is good for reducing surface compaction. Good forage feed.
2025.docx rename of Hobson Forage brassica.
Chicory
Chicory | is a herb that has a very strong tap root which can extract moisture from deep in the soil, providing access for other species in the mix roots to follow. The flowers attract beneficial insects.
Chicory is a herb that has a very strong tap root which can extract moisture from deep in the soil, providing access for other species in the mix roots to follow. The flowers attract beneficial insects. Arrowleaf & Crimson Aerial Seeded Clovers The combination of early and later flowering aerial seeded subterranean clovers will give a good spread of production and flowering.
Arrow leaf & Crimson Clover
The combination of early and later flowering aerial seeded subterranean clovers will give a good spread of production and flowering.
Tillage Radish
Tillage Radish is excellent cover crop to assist in breaking a compaction layer in the soil. Being deeply rooted it will relocate nutrients further down in the soil profile and bring them back to the surface when decomposition starts. Also produces high levels of biomass, especially below the surface.

*Occasionally some varieties in our mix will be replaced with a like-for-like variety where the original is not available or not easily accessible. Varieties in the mix will be specified on the bag label.

About this variety

Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix is an Irwin Hunter blend of thirteen species, put together to combine all the benefits of cover cropping in a single sowing.

The species are chosen for different functions. Some provide high levels of biomass for ground cover and organic matter; nitrogen fixing legumes build fertility; soil improvers work on structure and health; and others attract beneficial insects that support pest control across the wider farm.

Thirteen species is a deliberate choice rather than a marketing number. Diversity is what makes a cover crop resilient and effective, because different plants root at different depths, feed different soil organisms and respond differently to whatever the season does. Creating that biodiversity delivers benefits well beyond the individual paddock.

Cover crops protect ground that would otherwise sit bare for a large part of the year, which is where soil is lost and structure degrades.

The mix suits a wide range of soil types and conditions, and can be grazed, mulched or incorporated depending on the objective.

Planting & grazing notes

Optimal sowing time Autumn. Control persistent weeds pre-sowing; recommended to dry-seed prior to the break where appropriate. If grazing, rotate/strip graze to allow recovery.

How it's sold

FormPackStatus
BioNPK-S coated25 kgIn stock
Cover Crop Plus Winter MixCover Crop Plus Winter Mix

FAQs

What should I sow in autumn to cover bare soil and build organic matter over winter?

We recommend our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix, a blend of 13 species that provides biomass, nitrogen-fixing legumes, soil improvers and flowers for beneficial insects. It suits loamy sand to heavy soils with pH 5.0+ and can be mulched, incorporated or grazed. It is sown in autumn.

How much winter cover crop seed per hectare do I need?

For our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix we generally recommend 25 to 35 kg/ha on soils of pH 5.0+, sown in autumn. Control persistent weeds before sowing, and where appropriate dry sow before the break. Talk to us about the best rate for your rainfall.

What's a multi-species cover crop with ARGT-resistant ryegrass in it?

Our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix includes Safeguard, an ARGT-resistant annual diploid ryegrass, alongside Amass Italian ryegrass, oats, cereal ryecorn, field peas, vetch, clovers, lucerne, chicory, forage brassica and tillage radish. The diverse mix gives biomass, nitrogen and soil structure benefits.

Can I graze a winter cover crop with sheep?

Yes. Our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix can be grazed, and we recommend rotational or strip grazing so plants can recover. Introduce stock gradually because the mix contains brassica and legumes. You can also mulch it, incorporate it into the soil or leave it to stand.

What cover crop will fix nitrogen for my next crop and help with compaction?

Our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix combines nitrogen-fixing legumes, including field peas, vetch, Riverina sub clover, Arrowleaf and Crimson clovers and lucerne, with tillage radish for its deep taproot. Cereal ryecorn and oats add bulk and fibrous roots. It is sown in autumn on soils of pH 5.0+.

Should I dry sow a cover crop before the autumn break in the wheatbelt?

Dry sowing before the break can work where appropriate, and we recommend it for our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix when paddocks are clean. Control persistent weeds first. The risk is a false break drying out germinating seedlings, so weigh that against getting earlier growth.

Is there a cover crop seed mix with a biological coating that's Ecocert approved?

Yes, our Cover Crop Plus Winter mix is coated with biological BioNPK Powder S and is Ecocert approved. Our Cover Crop Plus Summer, Nitro Mix, SouWest Pasture Mix and Interow Mix carry the same coating. It suits growers following regenerative or lower-input practices.

What rainfall does Cover Crop Plus Winter need?

Cover Crop Plus Winter is suited to a wide range of soils and conditions, with loamy sand to heavy soils and pH 5.0+. Our tech sheets give different rainfall guidance between versions, so we recommend talking to us about your rainfall zone before ordering.

Cover Crop Plus Winter vs Green Manure Mix?

Green Manure Mix is a three-species oats, faba bean and vetch blend grown for about 6 to 8 weeks and dug in to feed the soil. Cover Crop Plus Winter is a 13-species blend focused on biodiversity, ground cover, beneficial insects and flexible use for grazing, mulching or incorporation. Choose Winter for diversity.

Does Cover Crop Plus Winter help with carbon farming?

Cover Crop Plus Winter builds biomass and soil organic matter, and cover cropping is one of the practices that can support soil carbon projects earning ACCUs. Eligibility depends on the scheme and your project, so check with a carbon adviser. The mix is also Ecocert approved.