Topic: green manure

[netty]

hi all I want to sow some green manure onto my empty beds but not sure which to use any advice would be great :)

[saddad]

I would still be tempted by Tares/vetch or phacalia if the soil is still warm.
 :)

[ceres]

Can I ask a supplementary please?

Are there any green manures that don't get eaten by pests either at the seed stage or once growing.  I sowed agricultural mustard and as soon as the shoots came through the flying rats stripped them down to the ground.  I suppose as it's a brassica I should have expected it.  A few weeks later I re-sowed and this second lot has survived pretty much untouched - go figure!

I also tried Hungarian Grazing Rye sowed under closely spaced strings and I got about 3 shoots which then disappeared.  I re-sowed and haven't got a single shoot.  So something is having a bit of a feast.

I've now bought Phacelia to try but am fast running out of options.

[manicscousers]

our phacelia always seem to do well,no pest damage that I can think, lovely flowers, too  ;D

[saddad]

Slugs will take newly emerged Phacalia but soon give up as the stems toughen quickly. At the recommended dose you should get a good cover.
Vetch has always come up well for me, and although it is related to peas by the time it flowers it is usually so deep that anything that is nibbling it goes unnoticed!
 ;D

[netty]

are green manures easily available? sorry for my ignorance but quite new to this and never used them before.

[kt.]

Have a look here:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,44560.0.html

[hopalong]

Phacelia, fenugreek, field beans and tares have all worked well for me.  The organic catalogue supplies them.

[bazzysbarn]

I have just ordered some phacelia and sweet clover from cotswold grass seeds     www.cotswoldseeds.com  as well as green manuares they also sell grasses and seeds for wild flower  meadows.