Cover Crop Establishment Formula

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

Updated April 2026 By the Old Cobblers Farm Team

Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Growth Cover Crops Fertilizer

by Wicked Growth — 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
Derived FromUrea (10–20%), Diammonium Phosphate (10–20%), Potassium Chloride / Muriate of Potash (40–50%), Silicon Dioxide (4–53%)
Item FormGranular
Release SpeedModerate-release
Application Rate1–2 lbs / 100 sq ft (broadcast before seeding)
MethodBroadcast and lightly incorporate before seeding
Frequency1x at seeding (optional 1x mid-season for non-legume covers)
Sizes5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb
SupportsWinter rye, crimson clover, white clover, red clover, hairy vetch, buckwheat, oats, radish, brassica mixes
SetupsGarden beds, field rows, fallow plots, orchard floors, vineyard alleys
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 19-19-19 Granular Fertilizer 19-19-19 All Purpose Fertilizer Organic Alfalfa Meal Garden-tone General Purpose Fertilizer Turf Builder Starter Food 13-13-13 All Purpose Plant Food Organic Pelletized Chicken Litter All Purpose Fertilizer All-Purpose Plant Food
NPK 10-10-10 19-19-19 19-19-19 2.5-0.5-2.5 3-4-2004 18-18-18 24-25-4 13-13-13 3-2-2003 12-12-12 5-5-2005
Phosphorus 10.0% 19.0% 19.0% 0.5% 4.0% 18.0% 25.0% 13.0% 2.0% 12.0% 5.0%
Potassium 10.0% 19.0% 19.0% 2.5% 4.0% 18.0% 4.0% 13.0% 3.0% 12.0% 5.0%
Form Granular
Sizes 5 lb | 10 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb 50 lb 40 lb 5 lb, 50 lb 4-36 lb 50 lb 15 lb 40 lb 25 lb 40 lb 4 lb, 12 lb
Release Speed Moderate-release
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
3-4-2004
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
3-2-2003
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
5-5-2005
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