Green Manure Crops Help, But Don't Replace Fertilizer

Stunted, wilted plants after heavy rain may not recover fully. Cover crops like vetch, Austrian winter peas, or annual ryegrass grown as green manure and tilled under in spring add organic matter and some nitrogen—but they're not a substitute for regular fertilization.

You'll still need periodic fertilizer applications for a productive garden. Green manure improves soil structure and biology; fertilizer supplies concentrated nutrients.