Fenugreek

[onionhead]

Has anyone tried growing fenugreek as a green manure? I managed to get hold of a bumper bag of seeds from my local purveyor of Asian spices but I've no idea how much I should sow, where and when it goes in, how long to leave before digging in, etc..

Also got half a packet of broad beans left over - is it worth growing these for the same  cheapskate manurial purpose?

Thanks

[onionhead]

[cowellen]

all i know is u make HELBA out of FENUGREEK.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

[onionhead]

??? What the helba is helba? Must be good if it's in capitals...?!!  :D

[ipt8]

No but I have a book called The Herb Garden Month by Month by Barbara Segall and it is in there. It says you can use the leaves for a curry flavour in salads, stews and soup. Use seed in spice mixtures.

Sow seed in spring for seed production. Sow in succesion  for young leaves to harvest.

Sow thickly so plants support each other, prefers a light soil. It may sprawl to a prostrate habit or support with twigs. Likes full sun.

Having said sow thickly it says thin to 8" ???

I rather fancied some to grow for a salad veg so if you happen to have just a few spare seeds to try ::)

Oh it also says it was grown as a cattle fodder by the Romans, just in case you have a Dexter cow on the allotment ;D

I reckon I would sow it in rows about 8" apart and see what happens, or broadcast it which is the usual way for green manures I think.

[onionhead]

Hey, the comprehensive guide to fenugreek! Thanks very much - that's worthy of a Wiki entry.

Hmm, unfortunately my allotment site has enforced a no-cow policy ever since that unfortunate incident of the summer of 2003... It's something we don't like to talk about, although Gordon on the plot next to me still walks with a distinct gait. :-X

[Curryandchips]

No cows allowed on our plots either. Apparently fenugreek is great, the leaves are useful as a curry flavoured spice, and of course it is a green manure. I want to grow and freeze some ...

[Robert_Brenchley]

Use the leaves or the seeds in Indian cookery.

[Hyacinth]

Is fenugreek 'methi' ???  If so, both seeds and leaves are good in Indian cooking.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Yes.

[euronerd]

That was interesting. I use loads (figuratively) in dips and mixed with flour in - what's the plural of roux? Roux²? Nah. I'd never thought about actually growing it. Thanks for the idea onionhead.

Geoff.

[fbgrifter]

I bought some fom the Organic Gardening Catalogue, it says (argh batteries in keyboard just ran out)  "Sow between may and august 3cm deep.  A very quick growing, nitrogen fixing green manure that will stand until first frost, producing a valuable quantitiy of green matter."

[aquilegia]

I have some seed to use as a green manure - you have to wait til the soil warms up to sow it, apparently.