Raised bed question

[ancee]

We've got raised beds, well, I SAY raised but, basically it's four planks of wood surrounding soil far below! Eventually when I've saved up enough money I'll be able to fill them all with compost up to the near top of the scaffolding planks that I've use, but for now they are low beds.
The question is this, it won't be long before Autumn is here and we have loads of trees near us, so I'll be able to get loads of leaves. Should I fill them in with the leaves. Also, green manure, any suggestions for a good green manure, which I can then chop into the soil when I'm supposed to (when AM I supposed to??!!) Or, should I put the leaves in and then sprinkle green manure seeds onto the top of them? HELP!

[zazen999]

I've moved your thread out of archived growing techniques as that is a board which was post needs approval and not for general discussion.

Don't mix the leaves in, just leave them on top and the worms will pull them down.

[Two_Sheds]

Should I fill them in with the leaves

Not really, not unless you can layer them with grass clippings, and top off with topsoil that you can plant into.

Leaves take a long time to rot down. Quicker if bagged up in black sacks, and quicker again if you can add grass clippings to them. Even then, it's a good year before the stuff looks like compost

any suggestions for a good green manure

Green manures / Royal Horticultural Society

Green Manure Seeds

which I can then chop into the soil when I'm supposed to (when AM I supposed to?

They are at their best and most nutritious just before they flower. That's when you should chop them up and drop them on the soil surface. They quickly break down, and the worms drag them down into the soil, aerating it as they go

[kathyd]

Phaecelia is a lovely green manure, and if you let it flower it self seeds and pops up all over the place. The bees love it and it's beautiful to look at, and easy to pull up and chop back into the soil. I know you're not meant to let things flower, but I can't resist letting some of them do so .