If you managed to sow and over-winter a green manure crop February or March is the right time to begin digging it in while it is fresh and green. Green manure is environmentally friendly and can improve the health and condition of your soil without chemicals.

Winter Green Manures

• Crimson Clover for good ground cover that will help with weed suppression a nitrogen fixer. Suits most soils especially useful in sandy ones as it likes it free draining.
• Mustard is quick growing and can be sown from March – September. It suits most soils producing lots of leafy growth good for soils lacking organic matter, helping to improve soil texture and give better moisture retention.
• Red Clover is a fast growing perennial that can be left in situ for some time. It’s deep penetrating roots are excellent nitrogen fixers and penetrate the soil helping to improve its structure. It can grow in most soil types.
• Rye can be used anywhere in crop rotation plans and is one of the best for over wintering. Rye has deep penetrative roots that help fix nitrogen and break up heavy soils and so improve soil structure. It is brilliant at suppressing weeds as it grows quickly and continues to grow in cold conditions.
• Phacelia germinates at low temperatures and is ideal for sowing from March until September. It will grow up to 1m in height and is tolerant of cold temperatures and may over-winter if its not too cold. Phacelia self-seed very easily so dig in before flowering or cut down and compost the foliage.
• Forage Pea like all members of the legume family is excellent for fixing nitrogen . For over wintering this pea should be sown from September to November

Seed merchants like Thompson Morgan supply high notrogen mixed seeds and Sow green manure.com specialise in specific varieties.

Cultivation of Green Manures

• Green manure will break down easier and quicker   if you do not  leave it to get too tough.
• Chop it up well with your spade or go over it with a strimmer before digging in as this will help break it down, the finer the chop the quicker it breaks down and the better it will be for your soil.
• Green manures suppress weeds and help prevent nutrients being washed out of the soil by rain and snow.
• They add humus and release nutrients slowly  into the soil   making them readily available to following crops.
• Avoid planting for 2 – 3 weeks to allow the process of breaking down from soft green plant material to wonderful humus to start.
• Vetches and legumes fix nitrogen in the soil.