Green Manure

[only small]

Hi All,
I want to partially cover my plot with Green Manure but am unsure of which one to go for. Do they all have basically the same effect of introducing nutrients?

Only Small
xx

[only small]

[jennym]

Different green manures take up different nutrients from the soil. I personally use Limnanthes (poached egg plant) as it suits me, and is easy to dig in. You might like to look at this link:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/organic/2002080423030611.html
which has a fair bit of info on it.

[terrace max]

It's getting quite late for most of them. I sowed some Trefoil two or three weeks ago and it seems to be going ok.

In general, check they don't mess up your rotation and use in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other soil improvers (in my case compost).

[redimp]

My red clover was a total failure - if anybody has any tips on how to get the stuff to grow successfully, they will be most welcome.  I want to stick with it as my nitroginizer (sorry nasty Yank habin of verbifying (I've done is again) a noun) and I want to plant buckwheat next year as my bulker.

[Dominique]

I think rye is still OK to sow now but cannot get on the organic catalogue website to check for sure...  I was thinking of sowing loads of broad beans as green manure - I think I read that suggestion here ?  If the winter isn't too harsh, then we get to eat them  ;D and if they die  :'( then the soil is still full of nitrogen....  ?
D

[Moggle]

I think someone on here said last year they'd sowed grazing rye in november before. I sowed some last week, and I'm fairly confident it will germinate.

Sowed some clover in a different bed, not so confident about that  :)

[Mubgrub]

Winter field beans good to sow till november.

[john_miller]

I think rye is still OK to sow now but cannot get on the organic catalogue website to check for sure...  I was thinking of sowing loads of broad beans as green manure - I think I read that suggestion here ?  If the winter isn't too harsh, then we get to eat them  ;D and if they die  :'( then the soil is still full of nitrogen....  ?
D

If you are going to harvest the beans then they just become another crop. For it to be a green manure the whole plant has to be dug in- the seeds are the largest single 'sink' for nutrients.
I have sown rye in my much colder winter climate into November and by leaving it to grow longer in the spring, where I was planting winter squash after last frost, it made a considerable quantity of plant material.

[Dominique]

If you are going to harvest the beans then they just become another crop. For it to be a green manure the whole plant has to be dug in- the seeds are the largest single 'sink' for nutrients.

Ah, thought it sounded too good .... Will try and find rye then.  Thanks
Found a site that gives the planting times
http://www.kitchengardens.dial.pipex.com/greenmanure.htm
D

[dave]

You might like to try tares- a sort of vetch (legume) tho' maybe a bit late now.
Only mention it cos I forked out a couple of quid for a liitle packet, like you do, then found I could buy a kilogram for £1.85 from pet/agri suppliers (fed to pigeons I believe).
Can just chuck it on liberally at that price and get a lovely dense carpet of green in a month or so.
Phacelia is excellent for bees btw. Was stood next to my patch yesterday and the whole thing was buzzing.  Pretty blue flowers and feathery leaves.   Again too late now this year.  I shall be hoping to collect the seed from mine as it works out a bit expensive otherwise (I've got 2 plots so plenty to cover).

[daisymay]

I have planted fodder radish. Has anyone else done this? Apparently it will die down over winter and I dig it in in spring.

It is going great guns - must be about 1 ft high now and about to flower, seems to have kept the weeds downa  bit too, though the bind weed is peeping through in some places still.