Green manure is a crop specifically grown to create organic matter to be composted on dug into the soil.

Green manures can involve

• buckwheat,
• mustart,
• phacelia
• fenugrek
• ryegrass
• Comfrey

How To Sow Green Manure

Sow direcly into the soil in autumn, early or late spring. Some quick growing crops can be sown as late as June or even early July When the plants have reached a certain height they can be simply dug into the soil.

Advantages of Green Manures

• They provide soil cover, making weeding less intensive.
• Help add organic matter to soil; this improvement will help boost fertlity and the water retention qualities of the soil.
• Makes excellent use of a plot of land that is not going to be used for a year.
• A crop of buckwheat can be ready to dig into the soil in just 6 weeks.