[Lardman]

I found this http://www.greenmanure.co.uk/sow_help.htm very informative.

[Salmo]

Phacelia is in my experience the most managable green manure. Planted now it will grow to cover the ground and swamp weeds. It will survive most Winters, not last year, and is easy to dig in.

[Bing]

field bean...is it the same to Broad Bean?

[sunshineband]

Phacelia is in my experience the most managable green manure. Planted now it will grow to cover the ground and swamp weeds. It will survive most Winters, not last year, and is easy to dig in.

and any seeds that escape into the verges grow into lovely bee friendly flowers next season too 

[sunshineband]

field bean...is it the same to Broad Bean?

They are both Vicia faba -- generally field bean grown as green manure is V faba minor, a slightly different variety (and cheaper to buy than bb seeds too  )

[Salmo]

Field beans are a variety grown by farmers for cattle food. Very hardy. They produce bulk to dig in but they do not smoother weeds.

[Aunt Sally]

me and hubby are reading up on this green manure idea.None of your answers have really helped,far too varied.We want something to overwinter and be easy to dig in in the spring.......now,lets have one easy answer ? lol

You'll be lucky 

10 gardeners will always give 14 different opinions 

[Aunt Sally]

These people are the ones I got my green manure seeds from, there's quite a lot to it including soil type and what you want the manure to do and when  you want to dig it in.  Their site containg all the information you'll need to make an informed choice.

http://www.sowseeds.co.uk/green-manure-seeds.html

[Trillium]

I tried green manure once and was put off.

It germinated fine and was dug in but then for the next couple of years it kept coming up as weeds!

Has anyone else had this?

The trick is that you MUST cut down the green manure BEFORE it seeds, or else you'll have this perpetual problem. And when you 'dig it in', you need to at least disturb the roots if you're unable to totally turn it over.

[Carollan]

Good topic this green manure,should be more widely talked about,I seem to get raised eyebrows when I mention it.....as if i`m taking this gardening lark too far ! I chose 3 different sorts in the end,thanks to Beth for asking the question and everyone with their helpful hints and websites .In the end I went with Aunt Sally`s suggestion....nicely laid out site I thought

[beth123]

Thanks for all the comments everyone, very interesting! You've defiantly given me something to go on. 

[Gandan57]

I`ve never grown green manure but it strikes me that the best way to ensure that it is easily buried in the spring is to strim it first then dig it in.