Organic Green Manure Seeds

Green manure improves soil structure, moisture and nutrient retention. Light, sandy soils benefit by replacing nutrients lost during heavy winter rains, while green manures open up heavy clay soils and improve drainage.

Gardening with organic green manure plants

Green manure plants are selected for helpful characteristics, for example:

• Deep roots that resist drought
• Fibrous roots that open up the soil
• Foliage that covers the soil and prevents nutrients from being leached away
• To fix nitrogen

Sow green manure seeds to cover ground that would otherwise be bare, usually after you have harvested a previous crop. You can either dig them in or (an easier option) mulch them. To dig them in, chop the plants up with a spade and turn them into the top 10 cm of the soil. If you prefer to mulch them out, cut down foliage if necessary before covering them with grass clippings, cardboard or biolene. Cover for at least six weeks or longer if you can. The green manure will gradually break down, and earthworms will incorporate it into the soil.

Why choose for green manure seeds?

We offer a range of organic green manure seeds – the best ones to grow will depend on your situation. Some of the most commonly grown organic green manure plants include:

• Organic Green Manure Red Clover – a legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil, and the flowers provide nectar for bees.
• Organic Green Manure Phacelia – great for suppressing weeds and aerating the soil
• Organic Green Manure Crimson Clover – you can overwinter this green manure and dig it in spring.
• Organic Green Manure Alfalfa – has deep roots, so it’s perfect for dry conditions.

Green manure as ground cover

Save time and energy spent on weeding by sowing green manure seeds such as Red Clover between rows in your veg patch. Bees and other pollinators love the flowers, while lacewings and hoverflies (who eat aphids) may also be attracted. Meanwhile, the plants will add nitrogen to the soil, providing nutrients for your fruit and vegetables.