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#ood weed suppression #rows at cold temp )ass of roots% best for soil structure improvement )ops up left over plant foods !ot closely related to any veg crop "uick cover Attractive !ot closely related to any veg crop #erminates at low temp
)any good points but soil tends to be wet in $ept which could be a problem
*hacelia
#ood on dry soils Red +lover Fi es nitrogen $mothers weeds Improves soil structure Flowers attract beneficial insects +an be sown !ot very weed up to !ov suppressing Fi es !itrogen Fast growing perennial #ood before brassicas in crop rotation 0high !1 )any good points% meets all our needs
Forage pea
+ould be used late but not enough weed suppressing capability If mi ed with +lover release of ! from clover is slower 0e tended12 3ike the clover combination/ better use of diversity
+an tie up !
Adds organic )ember of matter to soil brassica family 2For best results 456 Italian Rye/756 red clover After After After After 3egumes/ before 8rassicas 8rassicas/ before *otatoes *otatoes/ before Roots 9 Alliums / leafmould Roots 9 Alliums/ before 3egumes
)ustard
Benefits of Green manures compiled by Garden Organic &here are all sorts of good reasons for growing green manures. &hey will: Improve soil fertility / clover and other legumes harvest nitrogen from the air. ;eep soil fertility / mop up plant foods on empty land% so they are not washed out by the rain. *rotect soil structure / a <cover crop< protects the soil from damage by heavy rain. ;eep down weeds / smother seedlings and compete for light and plant foods. 'elp control pests / provide safe cover for beetles% frogs and other predators. $timulate soil biological activity / microbes and other soil organisms rapidly colonise green manure foliage dug into the soil. Increased biological activity makes for a more productive soil. 3oosen the soil / deep rooting green manures can help to loosen and aerate the soil deep into the ground. *rotect soil life / a living mulch protects creatures in the soil from the
e tremes of weather.