Elkhair -

I can' t speak from experience for your area- but can tell you that if wheat works good - but is REAL plentiful - try Oats, Rye, Barley, or other grain for a fall planting. In the North -- Rye is a better choice - but in the south - different varieties of oats might be a bit better than Wheat.

Short of that - try experimenting. Next time you plant - get a few pounds of other seeds you' d like to try - and sow them in the same area - in soild, small, adjoining, plots. Experience really is the best teacher - and luckily seed is cheap. Some clovers have a decent drought tolerance - maybe you would like to look at them - at least planted in conjunction ( a mix is a good thing to try - do the solid plots first though).

For what to do with Rye - you can extend its usefulness by mowing several times. If you have the equipment - the thing to do is plow it under when it just heads out. The " green manure" will be very available for the next crop. - In the south you might do this 2-3 time/year even.

Good luck in your plots.