Hello,
I've never experimented with green manure previously, but having read
about the principles, I'm under the impression that it would be
beneficial. I'd appreciete some advice on what to use. I am new to
vegetable gardening, but have recently prepared three 4-foot wide,
raised beds, which I plan to grow vegetables in next Spring. The beds
were created on a piece of garden that had not been cultivated for a
few years. It was sparsely covered in weeds and self-seeding garden
plants and shrub saplings when I took it over. Nevertheless, the soil
was fairly dark, rich and easy to dig over. I gather the
acid/alkalinity is fairly neutral, as a wide variety of plants seem to
like it. I am in South Dorset, and the beds are well sheltered from
winds and get full sun for most of the day on sunny days.

About two weeks ago, after clearing and digging over the ground and
creating the beds, I spread a 3" to 4" thick layer of fairly
well-rotted grass-cutting compost on top. (I anticipate that the worms
will take this down over the winter.)

Is there a suitable green manure plant I can now sow, directly onto
these compost-covered beds with a view to digging it in next spring,
prior to planting vegetables? What would be the best choice?

Many thanks for any help.

Jake D

"JakeD" wrote in message
...

Hello,
I've never experimented with green manure previously, but having read
about the principles, I'm under the impression that it would be
beneficial. I'd appreciete some advice on what to use. I am new to
vegetable gardening, but have recently prepared three 4-foot wide,
raised beds, which I plan to grow vegetables in next Spring. The beds
were created on a piece of garden that had not been cultivated for a
few years. It was sparsely covered in weeds and self-seeding garden
plants and shrub saplings when I took it over. Nevertheless, the soil
was fairly dark, rich and easy to dig over. I gather the
acid/alkalinity is fairly neutral, as a wide variety of plants seem to
like it. I am in South Dorset, and the beds are well sheltered from
winds and get full sun for most of the day on sunny days.

About two weeks ago, after clearing and digging over the ground and
creating the beds, I spread a 3" to 4" thick layer of fairly
well-rotted grass-cutting compost on top. (I anticipate that the worms
will take this down over the winter.)

Is there a suitable green manure plant I can now sow, directly onto
these compost-covered beds with a view to digging it in next spring,
prior to planting vegetables? What would be the best choice?

Many thanks for any help.

Jake D

I like to use Phacelia because the bees love it too if you let it flower but
these are the experts http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=8

On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:40:29 +0100, "Robert \(Plymouth\)"
remove my other hobby to reply
wrote:

I like to use Phacelia because the bees love it too if you let it flower but
these are the experts http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=8

Thank you. It looks as though field beans may be my only
nitrogen-fixing one sowable at this time of year. I have ordered some
seeds. I hope it works! I've heard that they can be slow to germinate,
unless they get sufficient sun. I hope also that they'll germinate and
get started OK in my 3.5"-thick layer of grass compost.

JD

"JakeD" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:40:29 +0100, "Robert \(Plymouth\)"
remove my other hobby to reply
wrote:

I like to use Phacelia because the bees love it too if you let it flower
but
these are the experts
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=8

Thank you. It looks as though field beans may be my only
nitrogen-fixing one sowable at this time of year. I have ordered some
seeds. I hope it works! I've heard that they can be slow to germinate,
unless they get sufficient sun. I hope also that they'll germinate and
get started OK in my 3.5"-thick layer of grass compost.

JD


I like field beans or winter tares, what to use depends on your soils
nutrients and what yu want out of it in future years.
T&M do a general purpose green manure which is very good, but you probably
have to get it from them by post (pardon!), as it doesnt seem to be in the
garden centres. Not round here anyway.
As to germination, depends n where you are. The soil temperture here
(Wirral) is about 17 degrees C still. Might be different inland.

Cheers
John

In article ,
(JakeD) wrote:

field beans may be my only
nitrogen-fixing one sowable at this time of year. I have ordered some
seeds. I hope it works! I've heard that they can be slow to germinate,
unless they get sufficient sun. I hope also that they'll germinate and
get started OK in my 3.5"-thick layer of grass compost

They will probably take about a month to show anything. Eventually (June
july), they are very edible.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/