Green Manure for Winter

**Scarlet** · 06-11-2014, 10:53 PM

Have a look at winter field bean - though I think it may be a little late for germination. Day light hours are shortening and it's getting pretty cold!

**Feral007** · 07-11-2014, 04:23 AM

Wrong side of the world, but a cool season manure we used was Wooly Pod Vetch/Fenugreek/oats/sub clover. Did it's job. the wooly pod vetch keeps on keeping on, but we like it.

**Kristen** · 07-11-2014, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by Feral007 View Post

Wooly Pod Vetch

Love the name! Can't find any sign of it over here, I wonder why that is?

**Kristen** · 07-11-2014, 07:59 AM

OK ... Googled better after my first search and post ... looks like it needs warmth and water, so not really suitable in our Summer ... and too cold for most of our Winter.

**alldigging** · 07-11-2014, 08:57 AM

https://www.greenmanure.co.uk/advice...-green-manure/

This has a when to sow chart. Very useful site.

**bario1** · 07-11-2014, 09:42 AM

I've tried green manures two years running now, firstly field beans and this year Winter Tares. Sown in mid September, and both years it's barely got going till the following spring (this year's is looking like coming to nothing) - if it's ground cover you're looking for I wouldn't bother now, you'll be better off with some cardboard or leaves or something. Yet to be convinced by green manure to be honest.

**alldigging** · 07-11-2014, 09:54 AM

I've got mustard seeds that have done really well. Just from a packet of food seeds.

**Noosner** · 07-11-2014, 04:55 PM

I got field beans this year from the site that alldigging recommends and they were brilliant - shot up to 2' tall in no time (in Yorkshire too by 'eck). They are supposed to still germinate in November, so you should be okay if you order them now.

**Two_Sheds** · 09-11-2014, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by fishpond View Post

Hi
Looking for a good Green Manure to sow now

You're 2 months too late, friend. In order to provide winter ground cover, the plants need to be sown early-mid Sept at the latest, and they need to be winter hardy

Originally posted by bario1 View Post

I've tried green manures two years running ... Sown in mid September, and both years it's barely got going till the following spring

exactly

I let my own GMs self seed now, and they grow everywhere all the time. I only pull them out when I need the space for a crop.
Looking at the plot now, I see no bare soil at all: I have mustard & phacelia everywhere, but it'll die if hit by a hard frost. Growing it under netting protects it a little bit, as will a warm winter like 2013, when it stayed green all year round

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Green Manure for Winter

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