whatever you do do not use winter rye. You will be pulling it up all next year. I planted fava bean last year, mixed with winter wheat and hairy vetch. The fava beans were far and away the most successful. I used bell fava beans this year which are adaptable to poor soils. If you inoculate before planting, the plant will fix nitrogen in the roots. Planting fava beans is extraordinarily simple. Just broad cast the stuff and rake it in.

Winter Rye will germinate in about 5 days if the soil is moist enough during that time, and the seed will germinate all at one time. In some 35 years of planting Winter Rye I have not had a problem with it germinating the next spring and summer, although if I let it go to seed I would have more germinate in the fall. Whatever emcalister1 planted probably was not Winter Rye.

I agree winter rye is a good all rounder. You might also want to consider a sub-soil loosener. Sweet clover and forage radish are the recommended species. I would leave sweet clover in for two years to let the taproot develop, but you might not be able to wait. It does also add nitrogen and provide lots of foliage. Regards, Peter.

Thanks for the advice! Peter, I looked up forage radish and that looks like a good option for me. In addition to loosening up my soil it also can tolerate dry conditions so I don't have to worry about watering it when I am not here.

Jen