[Brixton Crack Squirrel]

I got a plot in November and desperate to do something, planted some field beans and hungarian grazing rye as green manures. Miraculously,  they germinated and have grown quite nicely. But what do I do now? Do I cut down the beans and leave them before digging in or just dig in directly? I think you have to wait before planting seeds - but for how long?

[GreenOwl]

I've never successfully grown green manures but I believe you just dig them in.  I think you need to wait about 4-6 weeks before planting over them though.

http://gardeningdata.co.uk/soil/green_manure/green_manure.php

[gobs]

That's correct, so you are a bit late, cut and dig in quick and looking end of May to plant as earliest. They are not flowering, I hope.

[woodburner]

You don't have to dig them in, you can just cut them down and leave them on the soil as a mulch, or take them away to the compost heap or use as mulch on another bed, but the rye (being a perennial) may regrow if you don't dig it in. At least that's what the encyclopedia of organic gardening says. They add that to sow seeds you can push the mulch to one side.

[Brixton Crack Squirrel]

Beans and rye chopped and now composting. Soil turned over. Not sure if it's just wishful thinking, but soil (heavy clay) did seem a bit looser where the rye was.