Green Manures

Green manures are crops that are grown in order to increase soil fertility and prevent leaching of nutrients. They may also suppress weed growth. They are particularly useful where the ground is not in good condition and needs a boost to humus levels. Some can improve the level of trace elements in the soil by drawing them from the subsoil by means of long taproots. Light sandy soils in particular benefit from the ground covering action over the winter months when bare soil would be prone to leaching by winter rains. Digging in (or cutting and covering) wilted green manures stimulates the valuable work of worms and micro -organisms in breaking down organic matter into a form that plants can more easily absorb. The legumes (members of the pea family) fix nitrogen.

Plant	Deep rooting	Weed suppressing	Attracts beneficial insects	Leguminous	Months to sow	Comments
Alfafa	Y			Y	(3 -9)	Dig in green, dt
Blue Lupin	Y			Y	(3 -6)	Dig b/f, light, acid s.
Buckwheat			Y		(3 -8)	Calcium. Poor, light s.
Chicory	Y				(3 -9)	Light s.
Clover		Y	Y	Y	(3 -8)	Sandy or loam s.
Fenugreek		Y		Y	(3 - 8)	Rapid, between crops.
Fodder Raddish	Y				(8)	Over winter ‑ rots.
Grazing Rye					(8 -10)	Over winter.
Mustard					(3 -9)	V. fast. Reduces wireworm.
Phacelia			Y			Dig b/f.
Sunflower					(3 +)	Cut before woody.h
Trefoil				Y		Cut young. Compost tops
Winter Tares				Y	(3 - 10)	Heavy non acid s.

                 

Key :       H   Humus rich        b/f  before flowering     s   soil
dt draught tolerant

                Supplies can be obtained from good Organic Mail Order Companies.