Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: mumofstig on November 16, 2021, 09:18

Title: Phacelia as cover crop
Post by: mumofstig on November 16, 2021, 09:18

I've always thought it helped and recommended it, on here, and now trials sowed that Phacelia is one of the best things to grow to increase soil organic matter and nutrients for next crop.
https://www.farminguk.com/News/phacelia-and-oil-radish-uncovered-as-soil-saviours-trial-shows_59338.html

Title: Re: Phacelia as cover crop
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on November 16, 2021, 10:41

It's pretty much the only green manure I use as it doesn't affect my crop rotation plans. Looks pretty too!

Title: Re: Phacelia as cover crop
Post by: rowlandwells on November 17, 2021, 18:13

I was thinking about using phacelia next year but ended up ordering mustard brown for some reason so I must have rethink when ordering my next batch of green manure to give phacelia a try

Title: Re: Phacelia as cover crop
Post by: New shoot on November 18, 2021, 09:20

I am not sure what oil radish is, but I bought fodder radish as a green manure and used it this year.   It is a brassica, so does affect rotation plans.  It sprouted like mad and made a load of top growth which I have just strimmed down and covered to rot it. 

It is this one.

https://www.sowseeds.co.uk/collections/green-manure-seeds/products/fodder-radish-green-manure-seeds?variant=923695347

I have phacelia growing which I am intending to leave over winter.  If it dies off in the frost that is fine and if not, I’ll strim and cover that Jan/Feb next year.  The radish was a much denser soil covering and thicker, lusher green tops, plus was ready to deal with now, so I’ve been quite pleased with it  :)