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About green manure

Green manures are ideal whenever a patch of land is going to be free of crops for six weeks or more, and they are particularly useful to vegetable gardeners and allotment holders. Although many green manures can be sown all year round, they are ideal when sown in the autumn to overwinter, when vegetable plots are generally empty.

They have many benefits. As they grow they form a green carpet that prevents weeds from growing and some have the ability to absorb nitrogen from the air, which is transferred to the roots and released when dug into the soil, giving a boost to the vegetables that follow. Growing a green manure in winter prevents soil from having nutrients washed away by rain or snow, and some varieties have a fibrous root system that helps to give the soil structure. Clover is a green manure that can be left to grow for a year - when it flowers it attracts bees and other pollinating insects.

What to do

• Prepare the soil by removing weeds, digging over if it hasn't been recently cultivated and raking level.
• Scatter seeds over the surface of the soil using around 50g of seed per square metre or following suppliers recommendations for specific crops.
• Make sure the seed is in firm contact with the soil by gently tapping over the surface with the back of a spade. Water in well.
• Bare patches should be covered within two to three weeks and plants will the most good if they are left for around eight weeks before digging in.
• If plants start to flower before this, cut off the tops and dig in. Leave the green manure to decompose in the soil for up to four weeks before growing vegetables.

Five to try

• Mustard - sow from March to September
• Crimson clover - sow from April to August
• Grazing rye - sow from August to October
• Winter tares - sow from March to September
• Winter field beans - sow from September to November

Watch video

Garden Organic give a master class on green manure to address all your gardening needs.