In article ,
Ed ex@directory wrote:

I have never grown a green manure before and am not clear, from what I
have read, as to how exactly I should dig in the crop before it reaches
flowering time.
IF you dig, do it about three weeks before you plan to plant.

Does 'digging in' simply mean turning the soil over with a fork to
incorporate as much as possible of the top-growth into the top 4 to 6
inches? If I do that, won't it continue growing and sprout up again?
IF you're going to dig, work it into the top 8" - 24" of soil.

Or do I use a spade and start trenching and totally bury the growth
from one trench-line into the bottom of the previous trench-line? - sort
of like double digging. If so, that does sound like a lot of work.
IF you are going to dig, this is a good method to do ONCE but not
necessary.

Please help!

Ed

My preferred method is to cut it and leave it lie. Then mulch over
the cut plants. Wait two to three weeks and plant. This is a very
modified form of lasagna gardening
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...1/Lasagna-Gard
ening.aspx and it is a no dig approach to gardening. If you are worried
about reemergence of the "green manure" or weeds, layer black and white
news print over your planting area. If your soil is very hard and
compact you may want to digthe "green manure" in the first time
(I'd use a garden fork to reduce damage to the worms) or use some
buckwheat or rye in combination with a nitrogen fixing plant like
beans, or peas, or clover, or alfalfa.

Rye and buckwheat can put an incredible amount of organic material
into the soil as roots. Every year will just get better ;O)
--

Billy
Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1009916.html

On 19/08/08 18:17, Billy wrote:
In article ,
Ed ex@directory wrote:

I have never grown a green manure before and am not clear, from what I
have read, as to how exactly I should dig in the crop before it reaches
flowering time.
IF you dig, do it about three weeks before you plan to plant.
Does 'digging in' simply mean turning the soil over with a fork to
incorporate as much as possible of the top-growth into the top 4 to 6
inches? If I do that, won't it continue growing and sprout up again?
IF you're going to dig, work it into the top 8" - 24" of soil.
Or do I use a spade and start trenching and totally bury the growth
from one trench-line into the bottom of the previous trench-line? - sort
of like double digging. If so, that does sound like a lot of work.
IF you are going to dig, this is a good method to do ONCE but not
necessary.
Please help!

Ed

My preferred method is to cut it and leave it lie. Then mulch over
the cut plants. Wait two to three weeks and plant. This is a very
modified form of lasagna gardening
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...1/Lasagna-Gard
ening.aspx and it is a no dig approach to gardening. If you are worried
about reemergence of the "green manure" or weeds, layer black and white
news print over your planting area. If your soil is very hard and
compact you may want to digthe "green manure" in the first time
(I'd use a garden fork to reduce damage to the worms) or use some
buckwheat or rye in combination with a nitrogen fixing plant like
beans, or peas, or clover, or alfalfa.

Rye and buckwheat can put an incredible amount of organic material
into the soil as roots. Every year will just get better ;O)

Billy,

You always give a good reply.

I think I go with your advice.

Ed