Green Manure

[donnalex]

Being new to allotmenting, we've not had time to build up a good store of manure or compost (though we have three bins ready for next year!)  Just read about green manure in a magazine but it doesn't give much in the way of details

Can anyone recommend a green manure that could be planted now to overwinter or at least point us in the right direction to find out more

Thanks
Donna and Alex

[donnalex]

[raisedbedted]

Best source of info is from the HDRA (Now called garden organic).

They produce a very useful little booklet on the subject.

Also an earlier thread on this forum did have a lot of info about different types - many truly knowledgeable people here.

We grew GM this year and have some over wintering field beans at the moment, will certainly do it again.  Phacelia grew best for us throughout the summer but depends on your soil type etc.

Adrian

[djbrenton]

You can still sow grazing rye now.

[powerspade]

I sow Mustard as a green manure in Sept and I`ll be digging it in before Christmas, It adds bulk and fibre to the ground, also wire worms love the stuff untill they explode with a very bad case of wind, 

[daisymay]

not sure if you can still plant it but we have planted fodder radish over 1/5 of our plot. It is specifically for overwintering, it dies back after the first frost and you dig it in in spring.

Got it form the organic seed catalogue (HDRA) as suggested before.

[Mrs Ava]

Old Jack on our site has just sown yet more mustard.  He loves the stuff and sows, and digs it in, and sows, and digs it in, and sows again, all autumn and winter long!

[chriszog]

With the mild weather winter tares are also another option.
Chris

[donnalex]

Thanks everybody, have sent for the organic gardening catalogue though the leaflet is out of print at the minute so your suggestions are great

Donna and Alex

[supersprout]

I have spare grazing rye if you want to do a swopsie, just pm me! ;D