{"product_id":"field-pennycress-seeds","title":"Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) Seeds – Extremely Cold-Hardy Winter Cover Crop, Oilseed Biofuel Crop, Erosion Control \u0026 Soil Builder","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e50+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Cover Crop That Grows When Nothing Else Will\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMost cover crops go dormant or die back once real winter cold sets in. Field Pennycress keeps growing. This extraordinarily cold-hardy winter annual germinates in fall, survives temperatures that kill nearly every other cover crop, and resumes growth the moment the ground thaws, producing a dense root mat that holds soil through the harshest months. Its small oilseed pods have also drawn interest as a biofuel feedstock, giving this once-overlooked mustard relative a genuine second life as an agricultural crop. This is a working plant for growers who need real winter cover, not a fair-weather cover crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Plants Field Pennycress?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe farmer or gardener needing winter erosion control on exposed ground.\u003cbr\u003eThe cover crop user wanting a species that survives extreme cold better than most.\u003cbr\u003eThe soil health grower interested in a fast fall and winter living cover.\u003cbr\u003eThe biofuel-curious grower exploring pennycress as an emerging oilseed crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Cold-Hardy Oilseed Crop Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThlaspi arvense\u003c\/em\u003e, called field pennycress or stinkweed, is a winter annual in the mustard family, native to Europe and Asia and naturalized across North America as a common weed, now grown for cover crop and oilseed value. Plants form a low rosette in fall, overwinter near-dormant under snow and ice, then bolt rapidly in spring into a branching stem topped with small white flowers and flat, round seed pods. Those pods contain small oilseeds with an oil profile drawing commercial interest as a biodiesel feedstock, grown as a cash cover crop between summer row crops. Its extensive roots and rapid fall establishment make it effective for winter erosion control. Grown as a winter annual across a wide hardiness range, reliably surviving winters that kill less cold-tolerant cover crops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Field \u0026amp; Garden\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter erosion control:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sow in fall to establish cover before winter, holding soil on slopes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCash cover crop rotation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant between summer crops to build soil and produce oilseed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiofuel feedstock trial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grow as an entry point into pennycress's role as a biodiesel crop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEarly pollinator support:\u003c\/strong\u003e Let plants bolt and flower in early spring for one of the first nectar sources.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil building:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use as a fall-sown green manure, incorporating residue before spring planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExtreme cold-climate cover:\u003c\/strong\u003e Choose where other winter covers fail to survive hard freezes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Field Pennycress Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow outdoors; no transplanting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTiming:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sow late summer to early fall for winter cover, before first hard frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sprouts in 7-14 days in cool fall soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Germinates well in cool soil many cover crops can't tolerate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeeding rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Broadcast at a rate suited to plot size; denser stands improve erosion control.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor or compacted ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Minimal supplemental watering needed once established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter survival:\u003c\/strong\u003e Overwinters as a low rosette, resuming growth and bolting rapidly in spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e True winter annual, from fall germination to spring seed set.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest, oilseed:\u003c\/strong\u003e If harvesting seed, cut once pods mature and dry in late spring before shattering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exceptionally cold-tolerant; among the most winter-hardy cover crops available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the cover crop built for the coldest months, not just the mild ones. Field Pennycress germinates in fall, survives winters that kill other cover crops outright, and resumes growth the instant the ground thaws. Its dense roots hold soil through winter, and its oilseed pods make it a genuine biofuel candidate too. Sow it where erosion control matters and other winter covers have failed. Grow the plant that keeps working after everything else has gone dormant.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54418234999102,"sku":"11625","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5819.png?v=1789161317","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/field-pennycress-seeds","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}