Green Manure Seeds

Green manures are grown to maintain and improve soil ecosystems.  First all green manure plants prevent nutrient  loss in soils by immobilizing nutrients in the form of plant matter. Second the act of growing something helps maintain a food supply to the population of soil biota. Soil biota communities convert plant matter back into food for plants.
Nitrogen is an important major nutrient which contributes to plants green lush growth. Blue lupins and grey peas make up 19% of this blend and both fix nitrogen out of the air.
Some nutrients in soil have leached below the reach of most vegetables, Ryecorn which makes up 33% of this blend has deep numerous roots which mine this subsoil for nutrients which after decomposition are made available to future crops.

4 weeks after germination

same bed 4 weeks later

Typically green manures are planted over winter but can be planted any time of year. To sow first remove plant competition, then either rake existing soil to provide a thin cover of soil for seed (10mm to 15mm) or sift soil over seed to similar depth. Broadcast seed at the rate of one or two fist fulls per square metre.
Cover with mesh to prevent seed loss from bird if possible.
Green manure can be harvested at any time, but needs to be harvested by the time flowers start to appear, otherwise you will have seed development.
About six weeks before your next planting cut or mow green manure hard to ground level. Leave the plant residue and add another straw bale on top along with some blood and bone and rock dust to make a "sheet composted" bed. After six week make small holes in the mulch to spot plant or remove mulch and prep for seed runs etc.

Our green manure bags packed up ready for market

Our green manure bags cover around 5 square metres. They are made up of a combination of nitrogen fixing plants (tic beans, blue lupins and grey peas), fast growing winter plants (mustard and oats) and plants with deep roots to mine the subsoil (ryecorn). bags are $6 each and contain 500g of seed approx.