My Tiny PlotGreen Manure
Okay we’re back in the world of gardening. I’ve planted some green manure in the old potato bed. I went for mustard greens as I had heard (can’t remember where) that other seeds are a bit of a pain to get rid of once they start to grow. So, the green manure is in, and growing fast (what with all this rain). I’ll let you know how it goes, when I decided to dig it in and how difficult it is to kill off. Does anyone else have any experience with green manures? Any recommedations?
I’ve used mustard greens before – very easy to dig in and improved the soil no end.
Just steer clear of tares and grazing rye. Not worth the effort.
Buckwheat is great for summer sowing, let it flower because the bees and hover-flies love it. I’ve had good success with clover too, and this year I’m trying winter tares – they’ve taken really well and I’ve got a good, thick coverage on two beds. Have to agree with Clare about grazing rye, always been a disaster for me.
Thanks Dan – the mustard seed grows really fast – I have already cut it down and dug it in. I have another patch of it growing so will maybe let that go for a bit longer.
Hi,
You should harvest some of your mustard greens! Recipe: wash the greens well, boil in a big pot of salted water, with a few pieces of ham or bacon, until it’s completed wilted. Drain. Add some butter and salt and pepper. It’s very good for you.
Thanks Linda – much appreciated
Couldn’t decide between rye and mustard and as I’ve never done this before. I will definitely go for mustard now – Thanks for your advice and i will let you know how it goes!
Some times when green manure doesn’t like to in the middle of summer or rain or something similar. Because of this, I tend to use my middle name in case people think ‘Francis’ is a girl, and it’s caused problems in the past, but not in my allotment, as more people here are prepared to. When it happens, or even if it doesn’t (what with all the things in the media every day involving the City and the Countryside and things of that nature) I will probably tell them that despite my outward appearance, I am in fact over 18, not that this particular facet is relevant to the whole debate.
Anyway, Rhubarb as Green Manure I’m not sure really. Good luck with it mate.
I’m interested in growing green manures, but I cant find any advice on rotation. Are there special plants that should be grown where potatoes, legumes, roots, brassicas have been or doesnt it matter? Please I should be grateful for an answer.
Just taken on small plot ex bonfire site & general rubbish tip. Am I too late to sow mustard?All the allotmenteers seem to be keen on horse s—t i would prefer to go in a differrent direction.
Hi, my wife Sue and I have just taken over an allotment that has been badly neglected and I am looking at using Green Manures to regenrate it, so I am interested in any information I can get which brought me to this blog.
I would be very wary of free manure from farms or stables because these can contain residues of herbicides and there are many allotment holders up and down the country now counting the cost.
To be safe grow you own and compost everything you can not use. A tub of brandling worms at £10 is well worth the investment. I have thousands now just from that one tub a couple of years ago.