[fishwife]

Any advice on the best green manures to grow? Feel I aught to give it a try. Have used French Beans as one before. Any other favourites out there? Also, Wyevale garden centre seed sale.....bloomin' marvellous! Than goodness for the vouchers I got for my birthday! Spent far too much and treated myself to some root trainers with the money saved on seed!!

[Dave Hampsey]

the type of soil you have dictates which green manure you should grow, avoid Mustard if you have clubroot on the plot.
Sowing times also vary, Feild beans and Vetches are OK now but it is a little late for Buckwheat, Alfalfa,Phacelia and Lupins.
Plenty of web sites relating to Green manures.

[Jake]

I've just tried a packet of 'Green Manure' from Thompson and Morgan on my mums veg patch.

Its got Forage Rye, Forage Peas, Tares and Italian Ryegrass.

Never done it before though.

[Heather_S]

I tried that same one, Jake. It's not coming up anywhere near as good as phacelia from Mr. Fothergills. That stuff is superbushy and really pretty sort of carpet effect to it.

[Jake]

I was impressed by how quick it all sprouted.

Does anyone know if people can eat forage peas? They are grown as fodder crops sometimes but I can't find out if we can eat them. :?

[puravida]

really dumb question here - what is green manure?

[Jake]

Green manure is just plants that you grow when you've harvested everything. It's better for soil to have stuff growing on it rather than just left bare and it also helps to keep weeds down.

You dig it in a couple of weeks before you sow more veg and it acts as a fertilizer. Helps keep nutients in the soil.

[puravida]

ahhhh - very clever!!!

how the hell am I supposed to learn all these things?
my plot is going to be a disaster  

[noshed]

No it won't - what's the worst that could happen? Too many tomatoes? A few wasted seed packets?
You don't have to understand everything to be a succesful gardener (if you do I'm sunk.)

[Zak the Rabbit]

It wont be a disaster, i planted carrots and parsnips in soil like concrete. Most were useless, but i got three parsnips that we had baked in honey, and the pets ate several of the carrots, especially the leaves!

As long as you enjoy doing it, it doesnt really matter if it goes wrong



Martin

[milkman]

having things going wrong - that's the only way to learn anything!