Chris Collins shows how to sow green manure

Post categories: question, soil and compost, video

Chris Collins | 09:11 UK time, Thursday, 2 September 2010

Hi all, if you've been busy harvesting your veg, you may be wondering what to do next. This is a good time to improve the soil that's left behind by sowing green manure. Watch my video below to see how to do this.

Steve from Cleveland asks: I've bought some green manure seeds to sow in October and November, and then dig in next year. Will this help improve my soil?

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Comments

1. At 8:28pm on 02 Sep 2010, Sheff wrote:
Hello folks,

If I remember now, I think it was Chris who mentioned about liquid feeds on the Dig In blogs; especially such things as nettles immersed in water. He said that the feed is diluted down on a 1:10 basis, but my question is, how does liquid nettles compare to the shop bought stuff in bottles and boxes etc? How does it compare when assessing the levels of nutrients (N.P.G.)? Many thanks once agin, Pete

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2. At 9:28pm on 02 Sep 2010, Chris wrote:
When planting green manure it important to remember that mustard is a brassica?

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3. At 08:47am on 03 Sep 2010, larksinging70 wrote:
My winter cabbages are being ravaged by a small black /yellow caterpiller. Does anyone know what I should do and why I have got them?

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4. At 9:55pm on 03 Sep 2010, Tom wrote:
Looks to be the cabbage white butterfly have got to them.
pick them off off look for the wggs to wipe off before they hatch

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5. At 10:00pm on 03 Sep 2010, Gareth Austin wrote:
Sheff, great question. i'd say this is one for the scientists to give an exact breakdown.....i'm guessing but with a calculated guess i'd guess around the 10.2.2. mark....however i'd give this to the scientists to correct me on this one....

Chris, another great question, i would consider this important, thats why as a green manure i use dwarf french beans.

Larksing70, nature at its finest.....very common, just pick and crush as you see them eating away! for next year try some Nasturtiums in a big pot beside yer veg patch.

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The Dig In campaign has finished now. Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign throughout 2009 and 2010. We hope you enjoyed growing the Dig In seeds, especially those of you who are new to growing vegetables. This site is no longer being updated, but it is still packed full of useful information about growing veg.

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Expert authors

Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - check out his website for details. He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with BBC Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at Capel Manor College, Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the BBC Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

Peter Horrocks has an allotment in Newcastle. He's the regional rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners in the North of England & Scotland, the secretary of the Newcastle Allotments Working Group. Plus, Peter is secretary of a ten-acre allotments site in Newcastle, considered by many to be one of the best in the city.

Ben Raskin is an advisor with the Soil Association, as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.