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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: telboy on August 29, 2008, 21:04:00

Title: Green Manure.
Post by: telboy on August 29, 2008, 21:04:00: Hi all,
Decided, after my disastrous experience this year with 'toxic manure', to try green manure.
Bought my local town (pathetic) garden centre out of the only two packets of mustard seed they had - at a cost!
Where can one buy industrial packs of this particular seed? The two packs I bought only covered a pathetic patch?
Ta. :(
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: Larkshall on August 29, 2008, 21:58:52: If you know a local farmer, he might be persuaded to sell you a pound or two, or to order some for you.
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: tonybloke on August 30, 2008, 13:54:26: www.cotswoldseeds.com
rgds, tony ;)
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: telboy on August 30, 2008, 22:18:09: Thanks Tony,
The problem now is how does one drill seed on an allotment without the equipment?
Like the prices but hand spreading is what I'm after.
;D
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: telboy on August 30, 2008, 22:39:29: I think Phacelia is what I'm after at this time of the year?
;D
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: hopalong on August 31, 2008, 12:50:13: Quote from: telboy on August 30, 2008, 22:39:29
I think Phacelia is what I'm after at this time of the year?
;D
Phacelia is a large plant genus so you need to be careful to get the right one. Phacelia tanacetifolia is the green manure that is winter hardy. It's good for adding humus, I'm told. I sowed some about 3 weeks ago and it has produced a lush carpet of green, but I would probably have been better advised to leave off sowing it until the autumn. I want it to overwinter but it may flower before then. You must dig it in before it flowers, as I'm sure you know.

If you want a nitrogen fix, field beans survive the winter and grow strongly. I tried them last year and they seem to have worked well.

I get mine from the organic catalogue but there may be cheaper sources.
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: caroline7758 on August 31, 2008, 15:08:58: I like phacelia- leave some in for the lovely flowers. Kings have packs which cover 25 sqm

http://www.kingsseeds.com/Ko-transact/productlist.asp?as=True (http://www.kingsseeds.com/Ko-transact/productlist.asp?as=True)
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: Larkshall on August 31, 2008, 21:05:45: Quote from: telboy on August 30, 2008, 22:18:09
Thanks Tony,
The problem now is how does one drill seed on an allotment without the equipment?
Like the prices but hand spreading is what I'm after.
;D

Have you never heard of broadcasting? You have a container in your left hand held against the waist, take a handful of seed with your right hand and cast it with a swinging motion of the hand. That's how farmers used to sow the fields before the days of corn drills. A refinement of this was the "Farmers Fiddle", it had a bow with a cord which passed around the spindle, on the spindle was mounted a disc with vertical partitions on it into which seed was fed. by moving the bow forwards and backwards it cast the seed in front of the operator who walked forward. My Governor used to use one for sowing mustard.
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: telboy on August 31, 2008, 21:37:29: Thankyou for all your information.
Have finally found a supplier with low delivery cost for a good quantity which should last a few years.
With the latest & predicted rain - should be off to good germination.
;D
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: saddad on August 31, 2008, 21:45:48: We have a "fiddle" in our Horticultural Museum!
;D
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: robbo on September 01, 2008, 12:21:18: Care to share the name of the supplier with us telboy.

Robbo.
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: telboy on September 01, 2008, 12:32:35: Hi robbo,

www.organiccatalog.com
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: robbo on September 01, 2008, 13:47:58: Cheers mate :-* ;D

Robbo.
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: STEVEB on September 02, 2008, 20:00:59: i put in suttons mix 2.75 for a 10x6 coverage pack a lot lighter than a bag of manure,i dig add a handfull of comfrey cover and repeat then broadcast green manure boots and braces maybe but i enjoy the workout
Title: Re: Green Manure.
Post by: artichoke on September 05, 2008, 17:27:12: I have never grown green manure. If field beans are good, would it not be just as good to sow overwintering broad beans and eat them? Or are they not tightly packed enough?