Winter beans sown in spring as a cover crop?

[benny6910]

Is this a option in the spring as a cover crop on heavy fallow land?
Realistically I have 40ha that I will not be able to sow with spring barley as the soil type doesn’t lend its self to spring crops unless it is a kind winter and early spring. So just thinking before the last of my beans go off farm would I be able to sow/ disk in to use as a cover crop or would it be a waste of time?

 

[beefandsleep]

If your going to sow them, why would you not harvest them? Winter varieties are fine for spring planting.

 

[benny6910]

If your going to sow them, why would you not harvest them? Winter varieties are fine for spring planting.

I was meaning to use them as a cover crop so I can have a normal drill date for wheat in September, if I was to wait for the beans to be harvest ready then it would be very late in the year and risk not being able to get the wheat in.
The land was supposed to be in with winter beans now but the weather has put a stop to that this year now.
All I was wondering really is that would the beans be any use as a cover crop sown in spring?

 

[Spud]

Beans make an excellent ingredient in a cover crop, I'd say go for it

 

[beefandsleep]

Sure they will be fine but if your sowing them on their own they will have to be thick enough for weed suppression, in which case you’ve got a crop anyway. Unless your putting them in a mix of course. Oats would be cheaper if you have any.

 

[yellow belly]

Not if you intend to have beans in the field in future

 

[benny6910]

Not if you intend to have beans in the field in future

It could possibly be beans in 3 years time, it’s my only break crop unless osr becomes less of a risk to grow. I might have to leave it fallow then if it’s going to cause issues with my break crop.