When can we start planting green manures?

[Edith]

I'm so sorry, I bet the answer's here somewhere but I just can't find it!

I'm doing plans for our allotment, house garden and school garden for the year, and I want to include as much green manure as possible in them. Because I won't be the only one using the plans I need them to be as clear as possible.

What I need to know is when we can start planting different green manures. I'm guessing after the first frost for stuff like phacelia - but what about hardier plants like hungarian grazing rye and field beans?

Many thanks

[Hazel at the Hill]

Grazing rye is really hardy, and will stand all winter, but it needs a bit of warmth to germinate. I'd sow in Feb, and cover with fleece if possible until it gets going. You can sow it in the autumn so it covers the ground overwinter and then dig in early spring.

Field beans not quite as hardy, I'd say, but will still germinate Feb/Mar, especially with fleece.

I find that it's easiest to dig in green manure when it's no bigger than about 6 inches tall, and I sow in rough rows anout 8"-10" apart so I can get the spade inbetween each row to turn it in.

[Two_Sheds]

Green manures are useful when your soil is bare: there's no point at all in using them instead of an edible crop, unless you have land to spare.

The only time I have spare ground is after the pumpkins have been harvested, so I sow then (October)

If you're only now starting and have nothing in, I guess your first crops will be going in the ground in March?

[Edith]

Thanks for replies!

yes, I reckon we'll start putting crops in in March. With both the allotment and the school garden we are spending the winter and early spring doing various necessary winter bits and pieces (paths and support structures for plants), moving bushes, and so forth.

However thinking about it, I don't think we are putting huge amounts in in March, the big push will be after the last frost which is anticipated late April around here (Cardiff)

So you reckon if we put grazing rye in in feb on warmed soil, and field beans in late Feb/March, expecting to keep them in around 6 weeks each, it would be worthwhile? Anything else I should put in?

[Hazel at the Hill]

So you reckon if we put grazing rye in in feb on warmed soil, and field beans in late Feb/March, expecting to keep them in around 6 weeks each, it would be worthwhile? Anything else I should put in?

Sounds like a plan - remember that you can always bung on horse manure instead of planting green manure (except where you plan to grow carrots/parsnips).