Green Manures -Experiences on the Plot

[entrailer]

Hi,

Just wanted to gather together some of the knowledge of growers on the topic of green manures.
Particularly:
How have people fared with the weeds?
Any species seem to do better with competition than others?
Any XP of alfalfa?
Which clover fared the best?

• Bulk
• Disease/Pest resistance

Speed of growth
Any XP of using Lupin?

What is the current status of green manure plants at the mo?

• Height etc.
  When were they sown?
  
  Might be good to get some pics if people can get them.
  
  Hope you're all well.
  
  Cheers,
  N*

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi ET and welcome to the Vine! I was going to recommend going to the thread in this section " green manures - can you help?" but can see you have been there already! There is also another thread, again in this section "green manures and rotation" by running muttley which may answer your questions.

There was an excellent article in Novembers GYO - in fact, until I read that article, I hadn't considered using a green manure. (If you havent already got a copy, perhaps if you contact GYO they could send you one).

Although I only have a small back garden, with five sections (one with christmas tatties in) I decided to use hungarian grazin rye in three sections and erm, some kind of beans in the other!

I'm still learning as I go, and my grass and beans have begun to sprout - so am looking forward to seeing how it progresses. I sowed them in October, along with a layer of well rotted pony poo, and so far I havent had any weeds - so far so good!

Let everyone know how you get on with yours - and please feel free to ask any questions you have - everyone is very friendly here, and also have a good sense of humour! There are a lot of Grapes who have a wealth of knowledge, tips and advice and are more than willing to share it with us "newbies"!

DDL

[Bex]

Sowed Hungarian Grazing Rye on three of my beds beginning of october, can't see anything sprouting except something that looks remarkably like couch grass. Don't know what to do really whether to leave or dig to get rid of. What does Hungarian Grazing Rye look like?

[entrailer]

Sowed Hungarian Grazing Rye on three of my beds beginning of october, can't see anything sprouting except something that looks remarkably like couch grass. Don't know what to do really whether to leave or dig to get rid of. What does Hungarian Grazing Rye look like?

Grass, quite fat leaves I seem to remember.

[Snadger]

Sowed Hungarian Grazing Rye on three of my beds beginning of october, can't see anything sprouting except something that looks remarkably like couch grass. Don't know what to do really whether to leave or dig to get rid of. What does Hungarian Grazing Rye look like?

Haven't had any dealings with Hungarian Grazing Rye but I know of no Ryegrass which has stolon's or rhysomes like couch grass! If it is used as a grazing rye I would imagine the leaves would be quite wide though to give more feed value!(And manure value) If the shoots are vertical and devoid of stolons/rhysomes it will surely do the job whatever it is!

Just my way of thinking, and quite prepared to be shot down from experienced grazing rye growers!

[jlottie]

This is the first year I have tried green manure too, so it will be interesting to see how everyone gets on. I sowed a mixture on a couple of beds back in early October and its now approx 6" high. The weeds are few and far between - so far. I have ordered a selection from Kings to use next year.

[Protea]

I've incorporated 2 of my Caliente Mustard plots - Mr Protea did the last patch as the earlier one i did on my own and it nearly killed me!

The crop was about 1-1.25m high, although some of it had lodged to the side so was possibly a bit taller, the stems had got a lot thicker than last time i grew it (i had sown it less thickly which helped) which meant that the strimmer couldn't cope with chopping it, so we had to do it with a spade. It was time consuming and knackering but i'm hoping the results will be worth it next year (i'm puting potatoes where the mustard went). I'm looking forward to less weeds and less scab and nematodes.

My third plot was sown a bit late and is now about 1ft high and very thick, we've going to incorporate this next weekend before it gets too frosted.


I would have liked to get some more in the ground but left it too late and now we've got frosts i've no chance. Next year i'm hoping to overwinter some clover, or perhaps undersow my brassicas with it.

[Jigje]

The grazing rye I have planted looks like vigorous grass, not so wide leaved, but coming up very straight at the moment. Still early days though