Green manure

[Si D]

Is it a real substitue for using rotted animal manure?

It seems to have plusses (pls correct me if I'm wrong) :
-cheaper
-keeps the beds covered and thus free of weed, at the end of the season
-you don't need to devote a proportion of your plot to a big steaming heap of it
-less hassle in terms of finding a supplier, getting it delivered at the right time, carting it around the plot when it's time to dig in
-no issues about whether it's from an organic source or not

So, for my potato beds for next year would I be OK using a combination of green manure and garden compost?

[Si D]

[simon404]

The RHS advice is that green manure should always be seen as an addition to manuring and composting, not a substitute. So yes, your potatoes should be fine.  :)

[grawrc]

I use green manure for the beds that I'm going to be leaving empty for a bit. It stops the weeds, keeps the soil covered so less leaching of nutrients and the "crop" when dug in actually puts some goodness back in. But I wouldn't not use the animal manure.

[caroline7758]

Gaedener's World (the programme not the mag) has got an item on green manures next week, in case you're interested.

[Si D]

thanks for the replies - i think that I shall give it a go.

[Lauren S]

I was thinking of sowing some too. Any recommendations what and where to buy some please.

Lauren  :)

[Pumper]

We've just bought 100 sq metres worth of buckwheat and will be scattering that over a large unused area.
We intend filling it with spuds next year, but it should keep the weeds down over winter.

Edited to show the variety of green manures at this site:
http://www.beansandherbs.co.uk/greenmanures.htm

Plenty to choose from  :D

[antipodes]

I am sowing it at the moment in the empty patches. It should help stop the weeds and cover the ground to make early digging easier.
I have planted Phacelia and Mustard.
I think you must chop them down before they flower.
I bought them by weight from the local garden shop, I paid 2 euros for 250g.
I would say that they are no subsitute for other fertilising agents, more to help stop weeds and stop nutrients getting away from your plot. But a few bags of manure will give you terrific veg if you can get some. My sister's veg are great (in australia) because she has a few cows so manure by the barrowfull, the veggies are grown in practically all manure  :o

[manicscousers]

we've grown and dug in one lot of phacelia and have another lot on the way, let them flower but dig in before they seed, they don't affect the rotation and we get them from King's  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Bees love phacelia. A couple of years ago someone on the way to the allotment planted it all over their front garden. When it flowered it was covered in black bees. I'm the only one for miles who keeps anything but stripy bees.