Green Manure Seed Mix:
A mixture of at least a dozen different types of seeds where some can be harvested to eat though all grown for the diverse benefits they give to maintain living soil. The plants are turned into into the soil just before or at the time of flowering to add organic matter and a multitude of nutrients.
Plant varieties included in the seed mixture vary seasonally.
1kg of seed will cover approx. 20 square metres.
Green Manure Seed Mix May Include:
- cereal rye, lupin, pea, canola, sunflower, safflower, panicum, triticale, oats, buckwheat, millet, canola, mung bean, sorghum, alfalfa and brassica
Benefits of Growing Green Manure:
- improved soil structure - heavy and compacted soils are broken up and aerated
- increased water retention
- minerals are drawn up through the soil profile and made more available to the bed's succession crop
- conditions are improved for beneficial soil microbes
- brassica crops also help eliminate root knot nematode
Directions for Use:
- Rake the soil surface lightly to break up any clumps.
- Spread the seed generously over the soil surface.
- Cover the seed lightly with soil or compost to protect it from birds.
- Water in well.
- Keep the bed moist while seeds grow and protect bare soil with mulch.
- After 6-8 weeks, before flowering begins or woody stems develop, cut down the green manure crop at soil level, and chop the foliage into small sizes and leave it to wilt on the soil surface for a few days.
- Then turn the plant material and the roots into the top soil layer and protect the soil with a thick layer of hay or straw mulch.
- Keep the soil moist to assist the breakdown of the plant matter and within 4-6 weeks your garden bed soil will be recharged with nutrients, soil biology, and improved soil structure ready for your new crop!
About Green Life Soil Co
Green Life Soil Co is one of Perth's top producers of living soil mixes. Based on the edge of the Swan Valley, Linda and Paul Mitchener are passionate organic gardeners with Permaculture Design Certificates who have been developing their range of top quality, local soil mixes for more than 25 years. They are continually working with soil scientists to improve their soil mixes, some of which are organically certified. We love stocking their products because they are high quality, effective and made in Perth.