Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: caroline800 on October 13, 2010, 14:07

Title: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: caroline800 on October 13, 2010, 14:07
Hi

I am wanting to put half of my plot to green manure and was thinking of using mustard, but looking at the costs maybe not.  My local farm shop sells wheat at about £3 / 25kg and I was wondering if I could use this mixed with some mustard as green manure to keep down the costs.  Looking on the internet it seems like some farmers use winter wheat as a green manure/catch crop.  Any ideas?

Also does anyone know where I can buy a large quantity of mustard fairly cheaply?  Marshalls seem to do packs which cover 100 sq metres for £2.45 plus £1.75 p&p - think I probably need two of these to do the whole plot on its own.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Caroline  :)
Title: Re: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: madcat on October 13, 2010, 14:29
I dont know about winter wheat, but if you can use rye grass ..... why not?   However, when I was researching this up a week or two back, I did find several comments about rye grass that it was hard work to dig in with a spade.  Easy for farmers with a plough, but not so good for allotmenteers. (no doubt someone will come along and say it is a breeze.   :dry:)  I would think the same would apply to wheat.

I think you will find you are a bit late for mustard but the best site for info I found was greenmanure (http://www.greenmanure.co.uk/?gclid=COiH_Of4z6QCFYE14wodaUPhXA) and the best for prices was moles (http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/flower_and_vegetable_seed_store_uk/Products_Green_Manure_3698.html)  Their service was good too.

Oh, and if you decide to go for winter tares, people here recommend the best prices are from the pet shop where they are sold as bird seed.
Title: Re: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: JohnB47 on October 13, 2010, 14:46
"....I did find several comments about rye grass that it was hard work to dig in with a spade."


Nooooooooo. I sowed some yesterday - one of three seed types in a winter mix. Help!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: madcat on October 13, 2010, 14:48
well, in the spring you can resurrect this thread to tell us all how easy it was .....   8)
Title: Re: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: Yorkie on October 13, 2010, 17:19
"....I did find several comments about rye grass that it was hard work to dig in with a spade."


Nooooooooo. I sowed some yesterday Help!  :ohmy:

Me too - all rye ...  :(
Title: Re: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: JayG on October 13, 2010, 17:32
......."te" now,
Baby it's all right now!

(Oops, sorry, wrong thread, wrong forum!)  8)
Title: Re: Green Manure - can you use winter wheat?
Post by: caroline800 on October 13, 2010, 21:31
Thanks for comments, I think I'll give it a go - nothing to lose :D