Nitrogen fixing crops necessary?

[sazhig]

Are they really necessary on an allotment or can you get away with not growing any peas and beans? It's occurred to me that a big part of my planting plan from my last allotment involved growing a lot of beans and peas to help the brassicas along the following year...but my hubby and I no longer eat legumes :-\ ...I'm wondering if I can simply leave them out or if it would be beneficial to grow other nitrogen fixing plants such as a green manure or some flowers?

[sazhig]

[amphibian]

You could always sow vetch as a green manure in the autumn. Or provide the nitrogen through other means, it is not necessary to grow legumes, per se.

[sazhig]

Thanks for that amphibian. I shall do some more reading up on green manures.  :)

What other means are there for providing nitrogen?

[BarriedaleNick]

Depends on how you want to garden but there is no need to grow legumes.

If you want to go as organic as possible then use manure - normally plenty of nitrogen in that (from horsey wee!)
You can add organic chicken manure pellets.
Your own compost (with added human wee! - c'mon everyone does it..)
Mulch with grass clippings - they will rot down and release N
Then there are endless proprietary organic feeds and composts which you can add..

If you aren't bothered by an organic approach then you can add nitrogen by feeding with nitrogen based ferts like..
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/chempak-formula-2-p-51
There are tons of products like the above in any garden center - not my cup of tea though!

[Robert_Brenchley]

You don't need to grow them at all. I use grass cuttings to add nitrogen; there are lots of ways, and it's not strictly necessary to add anything at all. My father never added anything, never composted anything, and while his results weren't brilliant, he did get veg.

[amphibian]

Thanks for that amphibian. I shall do some more reading up on green manures.  :)

What other means are there for providing nitrogen?

wee in a bucket.

[powerspade]

I`m using Box peas this year as a green manure, I will not be eating the peas but harvest the seed for next year

[sazhig]

Thanks for this...I am organic and also avoid using manure so looks like I'll be going for the green manure, compost, grass clippings and getting the boys to wee in a bucket for me  ;)

Thanks all  :)