Green Manure question?.

[Rixy]

I have a couple of raised beds on the plot that I was planning on "green manuring" as I won't be needing them until much much later on in the year.

I must have at least a dozen or so packets of "mixed salad leaves" seeds, is there any reason why I can't use these as a green manure crop rather than going out and buying a proprietary green manure mixture (at extra cost)?.

[Snadger]

Can't see any reason why not. You may even get a few salads from the patch as well!

[Two_Sheds]

depends what you're wanting the cover crop to do. Anything that's growing will help prevent soil erosion and will provide compost material.

Salads aren't deep-rooted, so won't be able to bring up deeper-down minerals and goodness. They may also get eaten by your local wildlife (sparrows and slugs)

have a look here: http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=49

[Rixy]

Thanks for the replies, looks like I will be reducing some of the packets of seeds I have then . I have just counted them and have 14 in total, all given to me by various people who got them as freebies with something else.

I'll definately be picking the odd leaf or three from the beds but on the whole intend to just use it as a green manure and weed suppressant as the horse manure I have isn't ready to go onto any beds yet and I want to remove the black polythene for one of the other beds.