Cover crops (CC) preceding corn may influence subsequent nitrogen (N) availability, but it is not clear whether N strategies require adjustment. Field studies conducted in 2015 to 2016 evaluated the effects of a daikon radish, forage oat, and no CC following winter wheat soil chemical properties, corn growth, grain yield, and profitability. The objective of this study was to quantify biomass and nitrogen uptake of actively growing radish and oat CCs, evaluate the impact of radish and oat CCs on soil nutrients, and evaluate N placement and timing strategies on corn growth, grain yield, and response to N following radish or oat.