Hairy Vetch - Legume & Cover Crop Seed

Hairy Vetch – Raw Seed
Cold-Tolerant Nitrogen Fixer for Soil Building, Weed Suppression, and Spring Nutrition

Hairy vetch is a cool-season annual legume prized for its exceptional ability to fix nitrogen, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure. With deep roots, dense vining growth, and strong winter hardiness, hairy vetch is a cornerstone species for plotters looking to build better soils while offering early spring forage.

When fall-planted, hairy vetch overwinters in most northern zones and surges with vegetative growth in spring, pumping atmospheric nitrogen into the root zone through symbiotic nodulation. In well-inoculated soils, hairy vetch can fix between 80–150 lbs of nitrogen per acre, reducing or eliminating the need for spring fertilizer in rotational plantings. Its dense canopy also smothers weeds and shields the soil from erosion, making it an excellent companion in cover crop blends or as a foundational component of a regenerative food plot system.

Although not a primary forage for fall attraction, hairy vetch becomes highly palatable in early spring as it puts on tender new growth. Deer and turkeys often graze it heavily just as native food sources are limited—especially in perennial or rotational plots.

This seed is raw and untreated, ideal for growers who want full control over inputs or are working within organic systems. Inoculation is recommended in soils that haven't seen vetch or other legumes recently.

Hairy vetch pairs well with winter rye, oats, triticale, crimson clover, or daikon radish in fall-planted blends, and it can be terminated via mowing, crimping, or light tillage prior to spring planting.

• Seeding Rate:

  • 15–20 lbs per acre drilled

  • 20–25 lbs per acre broadcast

  • In blends: 8–12 lbs per acre

• Planting Depth: ½–1 inch

• Best Planting Time: Late August through October (fall); early spring plantings possible in frost-free windows

• Soil Preference: Tolerates a wide range; performs best in well-drained loams with pH 6.0–7.0

• Nitrogen Fixation: 80–150 lbs/acre (with proper inoculation)

• Coating: Raw, untreated seed (inoculant recommended)

• Bag Sizes: 1 lb, 5 lb, 10 lb

If you're looking to boost your soil, reduce fertilizer needs, and provide high-quality early-season forage, Hairy Vetch delivers unmatched value in a low-input, biologically active package.