Zone 5 - Suggestions on a cover crop?

[pampered_mom]

I would like to plant a cover crop this fall. Something that I can get planted, let grow, and then leave in place to hold the soil in and keep it from washing away. Ideally I'd like to be able to turn it under come Spring and use it as a green manure. Suggestions?

[alivia]

We're in zone 6 and we plan to do wheat. We did a small plot of wheat last year and it worked very well, so this year we will do more. Our plan is to harvest the wheat heads early next summer, then cut down the wheat straw with a scythe and use the straw in place for potatoes.

I've heard rye works well for an overwinter cover crop as well but I've not tried it myself.

[Owen'nZoe]

Zone 5 here, and I use Bountiful Garden's cover crop mix for small gardens. I can't remember exactly, but think it is a mix of wheat, rye or oats, vetch, and fava beans. It comes pre-mixed in two different packets - one with the fava beans, and the other with everything else - and instructions for when and how to plant. Works well!