[rich_exf]

Dear all,

As part of my crop rotation i'm thinking of sowing a green manure crop where my pototoes grew this year but i've never dabbled in green manure before and would appreciate any advice.

The soil on my allotment is quite heavy/clay. It has a tendancy to become a thick sticky mess when wet and then set like rock during dry spells. My overall long term aim is to improve the soil and make it more easy to manage and cultivate.

I'm hoping that perhaps by sowing a green manure over the winter it will

a) help improve soil structure
b) help aerate the soil
c) reduce water logging
d) introduce nutrients and organic matter
e) prevent nutrient leaching over the winter.

Will a green manure do this or am i best simply throwing on another load of pig muck (?) - i'm mindful that this seems to increase water logging!

I was thinking of a sowing of fodder raddish or hugarian ryegrass?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks,

[Kate and her Ducks]

Think its meant to do all those things. I'm going to give it a go for the first time this autumn.

[poultrygeist]

From when I had heavy clay, I seem to remember that stable manure (straw based) is supposed to help open up the structure.

Preferably well rotted.

Rob

[NO GREEN FINGERS]

how about some sharp sand

i have read that this helps break up clay soil and aid drainage

[richyrich7]

Lime also breaks up a clay soil.

I used mustard last year and that worked quite well easy to dig back in to, frosts will kill it tho' but it's a viable idea and a lot lighter than a ton of cow muck  

[poultrygeist]

...and I presume liming would help to grow most green manures

If the soil is not acidic, then gypsum can be used without affecting pH.

Rob

[richyrich7]

Probably Rob depends what family it's from, incidently Hessayon in the veg expert recommends digging in your broad bean plants as green manure.

[poultrygeist]

It's somethign I've never tried (green manure) but should do really. Completely organic and helps keep the weeds down too.

We didn't have any broad beans. My OH doesn't like them for cooking.
I ought to spend some time digging out the perenial roots while it's empty. :roll:

Rob

[richyrich7]

I've just bought some broad beans today a 1st for me ! we both tried them when we was little and hated them bullets    so we thought it was time to try them again.  

[Bombers]

incidently Hessayon in the veg expert recommends digging in your broad bean plants as green manure.

I've dug mine in this year.  I'm gonna grow all my overwintering ones in the potato patch,transplant the best ones for growing on,  and dig the rest in before planting my tatties.

we both tried them when we was little and hated them bullets

Pick 'em  young ( green skins) There a totally different vegetable

[richyrich7]

Pick 'em  young ( green skins) There a totally different vegetable

Thanks thats what I'd read so will give them a go .

[Ice]

I've just bought some broad beans today a 1st for me ! we both tried them when we was little and hated them bullets    so we thought it was time to try them again.  

Double pod them Richie.  Great hot with strips of bacon or cold in salads.

[Terry]

Hi
in the same boat 1st year and have just finished 1st and 2ND pots picked up John's book page 73 green manures, very interesting, also if you Google green manure you get a lot of information. I am going with agricultural mustard it takes about 6 weeks then dug into the ground. Good Luck

[iwantanallotment]

Double pod them Richie.  Great hot with strips of bacon or cold in salads.

What's "double pod", Ice?

[Ice]

Cook them then take off the grey skin over the very green bean inside.  It's fiddly but worth it.