Green Manure not growing.

[oldie]

I started to tackle my lottie sized garden last summer. It had not been cultivated for 7 years. Covered most of it with black plastic. In late Oct/early Nov I pulled back some of the plastic and cleared it . In one section I planted some broad beans which I started in loo rolls. These are now 2ft tall and growing. Another section was sown with Field Beans,
Grazing Rye and Tares. This has hardly grown at all. The highest growth is about 3" and quite sparse. Any ideas why this might be?

[veg4681]

I read somewhere that they don't do that well (quite pathetic) during the colder period like around now and that person thought it wasn't really that worth it .

But hopefully someone with experience of green manure will come along with better answers.

[pukka.tukka]

Hi

I have no answer, other than to say mine is not growing either. Sowed some before around August time which did much better, so perhaps it does not like the cold.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd agree - I sowed two lots of rye for overwintering, the first lot the beginningof october and the next lot the middle of november, and there's a big difference - the november lot is stuck at 2-3", and the october lot whizzed up to 6-8" in no time, and I've now dug it all in, ready for spring sowing.

[sarahspatch]

I grew green manure on my lottie last summer, think it was called something like Phaecelia off the top of my head. It grew slower than I expected, so the weeds still grew alongside it, but by winter it had grown well.
I'm wondering if yours didn't grow well because of the late sowing? I might be completely wrong but have a feeling that a spring or autumn sowing for overwintering is best.
I would stick with it for now, at least its covering the soil and holding on to its nutrients.
Good luck!

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, I too sowed my Rye too late (Nov)... it barely germinated and is now patchy and only 2 inches tall. I expect it will shoot away come March though.

[Sue]

That's a comfort, me too, I can't tell which is weed grass and which is the green manure grass, so that's going to be a real pain to sort out. Perhaps I'll try beans next year.
Sue

[Hazel at the Hill]

That's a comfort, me too, I can't tell which is weed grass and which is the green manure grass, so that's going to be a real pain to sort out. Perhaps I'll try beans next year.
Sue

Sow the rye in rough rows about 4" apart, Sue - that way you can tell the rye from the weeds, and also you have a 'gap' to stick your spade in for when you're turning it in. I may have a piccy somewhere...

[oldie]

Green Manure not growing.

Down here in Kent I have only had three mild frosts so far. My broad beans are flowering and I found a crocus in full flower when I did some clearing up this morning. I may just have sown the rye to late. I'm going to dig it in soon to put my potatoes in there. It has been grass for about 12 years so I think pots will be good to go there.

[Sue]

Hazel
Now why didn't I think of that....
Sue