Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi, Has anyone tried using green manures? We are thinking of sowing a couple of patches with alfalfa or red clover and are wondering how easy or difficult it will be to dig over when the time comes. Any comments please?

There are about 16 threads on green manures... have a go with your Search button. Here's one to get you started: green manure

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Experryment
I planted Lettuce and Beetroot in clotches and the earth between with green manure, looks good, can lay down on it for weeding "old injury", acts as marker for standing on when plants mature and will dig it in later to enhance soil before resowing area.
All the best to all.
Fred Perry xxxx

Hi Pop Rose, i for the first time this season are trying green manures which are Lucerne(Alfalfa), Phacelia and Fenugreek. They say they need to be sown between March and September and dug in before they flower.

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good Diggin, Chuffa.

We tried winter tares last year and vowed never again. They looked a right mess and after we had dug them in they seemed to inhibit any seeds from germinating.
We did a test on beds that were side by side, one had been green manured and one hadn't. We sowed seeds from the same packet in the same way on the different beds and the ones in the green manured beds either took 3 to 4 weeks longer to show or they didn't show at all.
Hope you guys have a better experience!
Cheers
Steve G

I have tried all the usual Green Manures (see previous thread as mentioned above).
I now would only use Limnanthes ... it provides excellent ground cover, is fairly hardy, provides early nectar for bees and other beneficials, looks pretty, and is quick and easy to dig out and compost (or dig in, as you prefer).

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi