Topic: green manures

[ilex]

I have used green manures for a no of years; i sow the usual ones like hungarian grazing rye, mustard etc. I read an article and in this there was discussion of using other plants as green manures such as woad (which would have to fit in with crop rotation) and winter puslane. i think these would be good to grow as a manure and would be multi purpose, woad being a dye and purslane edible.

   Do any of you have any tips and advice on alternative green manures to grow?

[Digeroo]

I use phacelia because it is pretty and the bees like it.  It seeds readily so after the first year the seed is cheap.  I also use broad leaf cress.  Nice for a nibble in the winter, produces lots of seed. 

Trying lupin but the slugs seem to like it and it is not frost hardy.  Broad beans.  Field beans - got some cheap in wyevale.   Wheat - if I find a spillage on the road.

Fat hen - not by choice it just pops up everywhere but good to dig in.

Weeds in general.  I covered an area in clear plastic last year and hoed in the resulting mixture.

[davee52uk]

On our allotments, land cress grows wild. Can this be used as a green manure ? Is it part of the cabbage family ?