Green Manure ‘Winter Mix’ is a specially formulated mix suitable for sowing in late summer, through autumn and for digging in during spring. It is a good all-round mix, containing three plants that each have different properties that helps with weed suppression, prevents leaching of nutrients, adds organic matter and makes nitrogen available to following crops.

Sowing Period: August to October
Soil: Most soil types
Growing Period: 3 to 6 months
Coverage: 3kg per acre - 50gm covers 17 square metres

Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
A good ground cover that will help with weed suppression, it is quick and easy to grow. It can take a degree of frost but even if it does die back the winter roots are beneficial. Good nitrogen fixer. Suits most soils especially useful in sandy ones but does like it free draining.

Mustard White Tilney (Sinapis alba)
The mustard is quick growing and can be sown from March to September for a period of 2 to 4 months. It is quick growing, suits most soils and develops a high level of green matter and fibre. Excellent for soils lacking organic matter, helping to improve soil texture and give better moisture retention.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
This is a fast growing perennial that can be left in situ for 3 to18 months. Its deep roots are excellent nitrogen fixers and penetrate the soil helping to improve its structure. Red clover has leafy growth that smothers weeds and can grow in most soil types.

Sowing: Sow in August through to late October
Prepare the soil by removing weeds, digging over if it hasn't been recently cultivated and raking level.
Scatter seeds over the surface of the soil.
Make sure the seed is in firm contact with the soil by gently tapping over the surface with the back of a spade.
Water in well.

Bare patches should be covered within two to three weeks and plants will do the most good if they are left for around eight weeks before digging in.
If plants start to flower before this, cut off the tops and dig in. Leave the green manure to decompose in the soil for up to four weeks before growing vegetables.

Don’t forget !
Rotate green manures as you would any other crop. For example - Rotate Vicia, and Alfalfa, with Peas/Beans, Mustard and Fodder Raddish with Brassicas
There's something about growing cover crops makes a person feel like a farmer!