Green Manure - options?

[VirginVegGrower]

Evening all - just planning to order and sow green manure, ie, Crimson Clover. There are others such as mustard and buckwheat. Any thoughts on which best for nutrient fixing?
Thanks in advance!

[Two_Sheds]

I wouldn't use rye again, it's too hard to cut when you need to. I tend to use phacelia & limnanthes now, and I've got crimson clover sown along my main path for the bees

[zazen999]

The above 3. Just fantastic plants in their own right.

[VirginVegGrower]

Thanks TS and Zazen, I'll look at the other two as an alternative option. I need to close my first earlies patch and a little while later, the onion bed.

[oldie]

Agree with the others but I'd add buckwheat. Grows quickly, deep rooted, good weed suppression but it does not fix nitrogen. Flowers are attractive to beneficial insects but don't let it set seed. Guess who did!

[chris]

I was just about to order some Rye - pretty much so I could leave it in over winter and have something covering the beds.

[VirginVegGrower]

Agree with the others but I'd add buckwheat. Grows quickly, deep rooted, good weed suppression but it does not fix nitrogen. Flowers are attractive to beneficial insects but don't let it set seed. Guess who did!

I know this is a winter manure and best for breaking up heavy soil, which I don't have - so not one for me.

[VirginVegGrower]

I was just about to order some Rye - pretty much so I could leave it in over winter and have something covering the beds.

Check out the buckwheat suggestion.

[chris]

Well, I'd like something that's slow to run to seed too.. with a chrismarkslet due any day - I'd like to sow, forget and pop up once or twice (my wife has already banned me from going to the allotment ).

[Two_Sheds]

.... so I could leave it in over winter and have something covering the beds.

I have limnanthes covering my winter soil, to prevent erosion and dessication, etc. It's shallow rooted so easy to pull out, provides loads of green stuff for the compost heap, and in spring provides food for early bees.
Self-seeding is a bonus, you never have to buy it again (and it's not troublesome to weed out anyway)

[oldie]

I know this is a winter manure and best for breaking up heavy soil, which I don't have - so not one for me.

Buckwheat is not frost hardy it is for sowing till late summer/early autumn and will last about 3 months before it should be dug in.

[chris]

I have limnanthes covering my winter soil, to prevent erosion and dessication, etc. It's shallow rooted so easy to pull out, provides loads of green stuff for the compost heap, and in spring provides food for early bees.
Self-seeding is a bonus, you never have to buy it again (and it's not troublesome to weed out anyway)

Sorry, bit late - I just bought 3 packets of that (poached egg plant isn't it?) Thought it would look nice in the garden

Tempted to save the seed from the clover in my lawn too (white mind), it's slowly spreading.. guess my lawn needs a bit of TLC

[VirginVegGrower]

Well, I'd like something that's slow to run to seed too.. with a chrismarkslet due any day - I'd like to sow, forget and pop up once or twice (my wife has already banned me from going to the allotment ).

She must be feeling close then to keep you at heel. Hope all goes well - keep us informed

[chris]

She must be feeling close then to keep you at heel. Hope all goes well - keep us informed

Couple of weeks ago she popped

Anyway, real reason for dragging this thread up again is I just came across this and found it relevant/interesting:

https://www.cotswoldseeds.com/files/...ures_final.pdf

[elizajay]

Congrats Chris and Mrs Marks. Pics of new arrival??