Topic: Phacelia- when to dig in?

[caroline7758]

I have had a patch of phacelia growing as a green manure since September. Is it ok to leave it as long as I don't let it flower before I dig it in?

[saddad]

yep, even if it flowers, and the bees will love you for it, the seedlings are very distinctive to weed out later...  :)

[Bjerreby]

Phacelia is quite prolific. Here is part of my garden last year. 6 weeks after this photo, the place was as purple as the North York Moors at their best, and I had literally thousands of bees, all very civil.



The seedlings are easy to recognize, which is just as well, because the stuff self sows like mad.  :)

PS........I have since dug veggie beds, and  porch is on its way at the back door.  :)

[Squash64]

I like it too much to dig it in! It's self-seeded itself all over the part where my pumpkins will be growing but I don't mind at all.  The flowers are such a beautiful colour and the bees love it.

[caroline7758]

Yes, I love the flowers and last year I left some of it to flower, but it didn't self-seed at all, and in fact one area that I sowed last year didn't germinate at all- not sure why.

[shirlton]

I grew some and saved the seed cos it was ever so dear last year and as you mentioned it is pretty