[sowitgrowit]

I've been reading with interest about Green Manures - I have previously grown winter tares with only a little success, but am interested once more in the possibilities to protect/enhance bare soil before the main sowing&growing season is underway.

The book I'm reading at the moment is Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Vegetables, where she talks of fast-growing green manures which can be dug into the soil only a month or so before planting - I have 3 small beds which I hope to grow runner beans, dwarf frenchies and either peas, or more runner beans (yes, I like them!).

I'm sure you all know all about when these should be planted outside, so with that in mind, can anyone offer their advice on how viable/productive a short-lived cover crop may be, which I would dig into the soil after only a short while.

Have I left this too late? (I only "created" two of the beds recently, and the other has strawberries in it at the moment which will hopefully soon be moved to pots).

Has anyone else sowed an early spring green manure with the intention of using the ground that late spring/summer?

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer!

[stompy]

Here is an option although it wouldn't really fit with crop rotation as there is a mix of types but it is an option.

http://www.greenmanure.co.uk/spring_mix.htm

[sowitgrowit]

My only worry would be that there isn't time enough for the seeds to warm up, germinate and grow sufficiently to then be dug in, begin to break down and planted over in time for my runners.

Obviously I could have planned this better, and may just dig in compost etc, I was just wondering.  I do like the idea of green manure though.

Maybe next time I'll plant some over-wintering varieties so I have time to improve the soil sufficiently.

Enough space to have a proper rotation would of course be a better way to go.

[TerryB]

I think you will find putting a bean trench in, will be better for your runners.

[sowitgrowit]

I think you will find putting a bean trench in, will be better for your runners.

I've dug in a layer of paper to help retain moisture, but haven't muchto add to a bean trench in the way of compostables.  I will dig in some general purpose compost and blood, fish & bone prior to any planting.

Thanks for the advice.

[Salmo]

Phacelia is your best bet. Sown in mid March it will be ready to dig in by early May. It is very managable and easy to dig in. Alternatively you can pullor cut it and add to the compost heap. Leave a bit to flower to feed beneficial insects such as hoverflies and of course bees.

[gremlin]

yes phacelia is a good very quick grower, as is mustard. 
I think mustard is a brassica, so shouldn't precede other brassicas

Haven't sorted out a successful overwintering cover crop yet. Experiments are ongoing

[sowitgrowit]

I would be interested to hear how you get on in the coming months. The only green manure I've grown before was Winter Tares and they hardly covered the ground as I expected (maybe I was a little too late sowing).

[NN2Blue]

yes phacelia is a good very quick grower, as is mustard. 
I think mustard is a brassica, so shouldn't precede other brassicas

Haven't sorted out a successful overwintering cover crop yet. Experiments are ongoing

Hungarian rye grass works for me; let it grow to waist height, chop down in stages and dig in.
Can be chopped down sooner.
It is hard work though; what isn't? 

[Yorkie]

  That's a significant session of digging-in.  I struggled with it having been chopped down at 4" last year!

[sowitgrowit]

yes phacelia is a good very quick grower, as is mustard. 
I think mustard is a brassica, so shouldn't precede other brassicas

Haven't sorted out a successful overwintering cover crop yet. Experiments are ongoing

Hungarian rye grass works for me; let it grow to waist height, chop down in stages and dig in.
Can be chopped down sooner.
It is hard work though; what isn't? 

Waist height? Crikey! Can I ask, when do you sow (presumably you scatter and rake in directly outside?), and when do you dig in?

[NN2Blue]

yes phacelia is a good very quick grower, as is mustard. 
I think mustard is a brassica, so shouldn't precede other brassicas

Haven't sorted out a successful overwintering cover crop yet. Experiments are ongoing

Hungarian rye grass works for me; let it grow to waist height, chop down in stages and dig in.
Can be chopped down sooner.
It is hard work though; what isn't? 

Waist height? Crikey! Can I ask, when do you sow (presumably you scatter and rake in directly outside?), and when do you dig in?

Sept/Oct for sowing (scatter and rake) and cutting down late spring. To be honest, I was a bit slow in dealing with it last year. Growth is beginning to rocket on the patches overwintering this year, and they probably won't be allowed to grow so tall as the ground will be needed sooner this year.
I used both digging in and a Mantis to process the cuttings and roots. Digging in though slower, gave a much better finish.