Unlike hairy vetch, common vetch is not hardseeded and therefore is less likely to become a weed problem if plants escape at field edges or go to seed before incorporation. The winter growth rate of common vetch is intermediate and is greater than that of hairy vetch in western Oregon. In general, however, growth is slow during cool weather, and rapid in warm spring temperatures. Environmental preferences and limitations Common vetch is moderately resistant to cold. It is likely to winter-kill in eastern Oregon.
Common vetch grows on a wide range of soils.
It does well on loams, sandy loams, or gravelly soils, as well as on fine-textured clay soils as long as there is good drainage. Although common vetch tolerates short periods of saturated soils, it does not tolerate extended flooding. Common vetch tolerates pH of 5.5-8.2, but optimum pH is 6.5. Its high dry matter and nitrogen accumulation, and the absence of hard seeds, make it an excellent winter leguminous cover crop in annual vegetable rotations. When planted alone, it can provide substantial amounts of N to the following crop.