Green Manure (cut and come again)

[jeremyf]

Can anyone suggest a long term green manure that I can cut maybe once or twice a year to provide mulch for things like raspberries and other longer term crops? I guess grass is the obvious one but was thinking of something I can let flower before cutting/mowing down each year. Will the nitrogen leaching be a problem? Would something like Alfalfa or Phacelia do?

I have more space than I can use right now so something that keeps the weeds down. Looking to cover 100m2 ish so cost of the seed could be an issue.

thanks

jeremy

[jeremyf]

[goodlife]

http://www.cotswoldseeds.com/index.html

Have a look at that site..they explain use of greenmanures well and they do large quatities..
and they are nice to talk to..give a call and ask what they recommend in  your situation....If you want longer term cover..some of the clovers are low growing..phacelia is fantastic greenmanure  but it is annual,,although it does self seed ..but it can grow tall-ish...which I would not like to compete with new raspberry growth...

[jeremyf]

Thanks, cheap source of green manure seeds. I have emailed them. I think you are right in thinking the clovers are a better idea. I had a thought about a comfrey bed which I can mow a couple of times a year but not sure it will suvive being cut to 10cm? I was only thinking of putting the cut down green manure around the base of the rapberries. Perhaps I'll do a trial of a few this year.

thanks

jeremy

[:(]

I use phacelia between the rasps. I let it set seed so it will grow back then cut it down and leave it on the surface as a mulch. Then the seedlings come through again so the ground is always covered. Its great for attracting bees. Havent noticed any problems with the rasps cropping as good as ever.

[jeremyf]

Hi weequinie, do you let it grow over the raspberries and around the roots etc. Is it quite difficult to cut it down. I'd like to use a lawn mower but I wouldn't be able to get too close to the raspberry roots?

thanks

[:(]

No i havent sown it right up to the stems and roots, I leave a clear gap. I just chop it roughly down with shears. Phacelia grows tall and has fairly tough stems, I doubt if a lawnmower would cope.