Cover Crop Establishment Formula

Best Cover Crop Fertilizer (10-10-10): Balanced Nutrition for Fast Establishment & Maximum Biomass Buy on Old Cobblers Farm

Cover crops need a quick start to outcompete weeds and build biomass before winter. This 10-10-10 provides the balanced kick at seeding that drives rapid germination, strong root establishment, and maximum above-ground biomass for soil protection.

Updated April 2026 10 Products Compared By the Old Cobblers Farm Team

Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Growth Cover Crops Fertilizer

by Conventional Fertilizer — Littleton, NH

10-10-10
N-P-K Ratio
"The cover crop establishment formula that gets your soil-building species up and running fast. Balanced NPK at seeding fuels rapid canopy closure for weed suppression and maximum root biomass for soil structure improvement."
10-10-10
Balanced NPK
500 ft²
Max Coverage / bag
1x
Application at seeding
4 Sizes
5, 10, 15, 20 lbs
🌱

Fast Establishment

Balanced NPK at seeding gives cover crop seedlings the nutrition they need to germinate quickly and close canopy before weeds can compete. Speed matters with cover crops.

🌿

Maximum Biomass Production

10% nitrogen fuels the leafy biomass that protects soil from erosion, suppresses weeds, and becomes green manure when you terminate the cover crop in spring.

🌳

Root Development for Soil Building

10% phosphorus supports the deep root growth that breaks compaction, creates soil pores, and feeds soil biology — the whole point of planting cover crops.

⚠️

Go Light on N-Fixing Covers

Clover, vetch, and other legume covers fix their own nitrogen. Use the lighter rate (1 lb / 100 sq ft) for legume mixes to avoid suppressing nodule activity.

📦

250–500 sq ft Per Bag

At the light rate for legumes, one bag covers 500 sq ft. At the standard rate for grasses and brassicas, covers 250 sq ft.

📅

One Application at Seeding

Broadcast and lightly incorporate before seeding. Most cover crops need only this single application — they're bred to thrive in modest fertility conditions.

All Cover Crop Species

Winter rye, clover, vetch, buckwheat, oats, radish, brassica mixes — works for every cover crop species and blend in your rotation.

🇺🇸

Trusted by 20,000+ Growers

Developed in Littleton, New Hampshire. Sold nationwide on Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and theoldcobblersfarm.com.

NPK Ratio10-10-10
Item FormGranular
Coverage250–500 sq ft per 5 lb bag
CategoryConventional Fertilizer
TypeLawn & Turf
Sizes5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb
NPK10-10-10
Nitrogen10%
Phosphorus10% available phosphate
Potassium10% soluble potash
FormGranular
Rate1–2 lbs / 100 sq ft
MethodBroadcast before seeding
Frequency1x at seeding
Sizes5, 10, 15, 20 lb bags
Best ForWinter rye, clover, vetch, buckwheat, oats, radish, all cover crops
NoteUse lighter rate for N-fixing legume covers
What We Love
Drives fast establishment and canopy closure for weed suppression
Balanced NPK supports both biomass and root development
250–500 sq ft per bag — scales for small gardens to large plots
Single application at seeding — simple and low-maintenance
Works for all cover crop species — grasses, legumes, brassicas
Worth Noting
Go lighter on N-fixing legume covers to avoid suppressing nodules
Granular only — not for hydroseeding applications (use 19-19-19)
Buy on Old Cobblers Farm →
Available in 5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb
Feature Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Growth Cover Crops Fertilizer Old Cobblers Farm 19-19-19 Granular Fertilizer GroundWork 19-19-19 All Purpose Fertilizer Pennington Organic Alfalfa Meal Down To Earth Garden-tone Espoma Organic General Purpose Fertilizer Shur-Crop Turf Builder Starter Food Scotts 13-13-13 All Purpose Plant Food Expert Gardener Organic Pelletized Chicken Litter Coop Gro All Purpose Fertilizer Howard Johnson's All-Purpose Plant Food True Organic
NPK 10-10-10 19-19-19 19-19-19 2.5-0.5-2.5 3-4-4 18-18-18 24-25-4 13-13-13 3-2-3 12-12-12 5-5-5
Form Granular
Coverage 250–500 sq ft per 5 lb bag Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed Not listed
Price / Size 5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb $30-$35 $26-$30 $20-$65 $12-$45 $40-$45 $25 $19-$22 $22-$25 $25-$30 $15-$30
Our Take The cover crop establishment formula that gets your soil-building s...
The Competition

19-19-19 Granular Fertilizer

by GroundWork
19-19-19
N-P-K
Sizes50 lb
Price$30-$35

19-19-19 All Purpose Fertilizer

by Pennington
19-19-19
N-P-K
Sizes40 lb
Price$26-$30

Organic Alfalfa Meal

by Down To Earth
2.5-0.5-2.5
N-P-K
Sizes5 lb, 50 lb
Price$20-$65

Garden-tone

by Espoma Organic
3-4-4
N-P-K
Sizes4-36 lb
Price$12-$45

General Purpose Fertilizer

by Shur-Crop
18-18-18
N-P-K
Sizes50 lb
Price$40-$45

Turf Builder Starter Food

by Scotts
24-25-4
N-P-K
Sizes15 lb
Price$25

13-13-13 All Purpose Plant Food

by Expert Gardener
13-13-13
N-P-K
Sizes40 lb
Price$19-$22

Organic Pelletized Chicken Litter

by Coop Gro
3-2-3
N-P-K
Sizes25 lb
Price$22-$25

All Purpose Fertilizer

by Howard Johnson's
12-12-12
N-P-K
Sizes40 lb
Price$25-$30

All-Purpose Plant Food

by True Organic
5-5-5
N-P-K
Sizes4 lb, 12 lb
Price$15-$30

🌱

Fast Establishment

Balanced NPK at seeding gives cover crop seedlings the nutrition they need to germinate quickly and close canopy before weeds can compete. Speed matters with cover crops.

🌿

Maximum Biomass Production

10% nitrogen fuels the leafy biomass that protects soil from erosion, suppresses weeds, and becomes green manure when you terminate the cover crop in spring.

🌳

Root Development for Soil Building

10% phosphorus supports the deep root growth that breaks compaction, creates soil pores, and feeds soil biology — the whole point of planting cover crops.

⚠️

Go Light on N-Fixing Covers

Clover, vetch, and other legume covers fix their own nitrogen. Use the lighter rate (1 lb / 100 sq ft) for legume mixes to avoid suppressing nodule activity.

Common Questions