Rye (Annual) Growing Guide

Lolium multiflorum

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any soil, including poorly drained sites.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Winter hardiness varies with variety. Some strains are killed by temperatures around -10F (-23 C), while especially hardy varieties can tolerate more extreme cold.

Feeding

When using annual rye to improve very poor soil, mixing a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting will give better results.

Spacing

Single Plants: 3" (10cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 3" (10cm) with 3" (10cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Walk over the planted site to firm the seeds into the ground, and then water to promote fast germination. Although customarily grown in fall, annual rye can be used as a fast-growing cover crop in all but the hottest summer months. Broadcast seed into cultivated soil so that the seeds are about 1 inch (2 cm) apart and one-fourth inch (.5 cm) deep.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Mature annual rye plants can be difficult to dig out. In areas where annual rye is not killed by winter weather, mow down the plants and turn under the residue when the plants are young.

Harvesting

In a home garden, annual rye cover crops are easiest to manage if they are mowed every few weeks. The clippings make excellent mulch.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Rye (Annual)

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail