winter cover crops

[piccololily]

I live in central WI, zone 4, and am wondering if it is too late to plant annual rye grass. I already have a whole bag of it, or I would consider something else. My understanding is that it should grow well in fall before the cold, die out, and then be tilled under in spring. So it probably wouldn't germinate or grow anymore now...but would it benefit to plant it now anyway, to immediately start growing in the spring? Or will the seed just rot? If I can't plant it now, will it still be viable next fall?

Thanks!

[oneokie]

Check with your local extension service for suggestions on what types of cool season forages are reccommended for your area.

[Callieslamb]

I think I could have gotten a short crop of annual rye had I planted it last week. It wouldn' thave gotten very tall or added all that I would have wanted it to add to the soil though. As for roting seed, I over did the seed one year and most of it germinated the enxt spring. I like sowing in the fall so it winter kills. As long as you can thoroughly till it, spring growth would be okay too.

[piccololily]

Would you wait to broadcast it till next spring, or do it now?