green manure

forest flame · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject: green manure

hi all
i recently ordered seeds from seedaholic as recommended from someone on the site and thanks i am delighted with my purchases.
while browsing through their catalogue i came across seeds for green manure.
as i dont have access to farmyard manure i was wondering if anyone has used it and is it sucessful?
thanks for any information Rolling Eyes

Sive · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject:

I bought the last two packets of green manure from my garden centre last autumn, thinking it would do 2 or 3 raised beds.
First problem....it just about was enough for one raised bed, which made the whole experiment rather pricey.
And when it came to digging it into the soil, it wasn't all that easy, as some of the roots were quite large....maybe we let it all grow for too long.
So, I've gone off green manure a bit....but we are very spoiled here, as we have an endless supply of horse manure from our next-door neighbours, so we don't really have an incentive to repeat that experiment.
I'm not sure my experience should put you off.....see what other people say.

forest flame · Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

THANKS FOR THAT SIVE
I AM STILL UNDECIDED AS TO WHAT TO DO.HOWEVER I WILL MAKE A DECISION BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER

Gautama · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:17 am Post subject:

Green manure is very convenient if you've got a fallow patch.
In my allotment I've seen people with green manure in the standard seed packets. I imagine these can be quiet expensive. I get mine from the Organic Centre. Costs from €2 to €5 for a half pound bag. That's enough to cover about 500 square feet.

Farmyard manure is what you need if you are actually planting your veg crop there and then. It's great but it does introduce weeds.

I've never tried horse manure but have heard of it's disadvantages. Horses tend to be more susceptible to illness therefore they get many visits to the vet, and subsequently injections. This all comes out in the manure. They also get fed a lot of meals and the seeds in the manure can introduce very alien plants.

The ideal scenario would be farmyard manure where the beef is organic. Dunno if there's such a thing as organic horses. Possibly organic horsemeat in France?