Bed 1 was cleared earlier in January (when it was clear I wasn't going to get any carrots from the second planting either!)Some home grown chicken manure/bedding, that had been standing for a couple of months, was added and mixed in
A light dusting of dolomite and crushed rock minerals added
The bed was kept moist (with the help of 151mm of rain in February!!!!!)
It has now been thickly planted with Broad Beans - 4 packets and some are already up!This will be a Green Manure crop...cut down before it flowers...to provide some compost greens and mulch/worm food in the Wicking Bed.
Hopefully to leave behind pink root nodules full of nitrogen like these from last years planting in Bed 2.To help this process I will 'inoculate' the bed with soil from Bed 2 where these grew so well last year.
This involves mixing a couple of handfuls of bed 2 soil with rainwater, I'll include some worm tea and molasses to encourage the microbial growth!
Oooooo those nodules look lovely. Green manure is so good.
ReplyDeleteHi Mrs Bok
ReplyDeleteGreen Manure is very important and I'm getting organised to get it up and going (growing!) in the wicking beds too. It helps with soil building when I can't manage to make enough compost!
I have never grown plants specific for green manure. Something I am going to have to consider. Thanks for inspiration. And yes, great photo of the root nodules.
ReplyDeleteI have also started blogging my own gardening experiences. http://zucchiniisland.blogspot.com Very interested in your feedback on my current post Scarecrow.
I'm pretty much a novice but am going all out with our new property...I've read about green manure a bit; I am fearful of growing a bunch of beans and then chopping them all down though-if I can get something to grow at all I am thrilled and want to let it go all the way and eat it! Will attempt the green manure maybe next season..hehehe great post!
ReplyDeleteHa Raechelle
ReplyDeleteIt is tempting to leave them to produce beans but they are valuable to the soil too!
This year I'm growing a couple of beds of green manure and other beds for eating.
Broad beans are one crop that grows well in our cold winters down here.