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Annual BiennialGrass LikeHerbaceous Perennial

Lolium multiflorum

Italian rye grass

A fast-growing, clump-forming annual, perennial or biennial ryegrass with glossy, mid-green leaves. It can be grown as a green manure to improve soil structure and provide a low-cost, environmentally friendly way of adding nutrients to the soil. Ideal for growing on empty vegetable beds where it can be cut down and dug into the soil before vegetables are sown or planted. Sow up to the end of November

Synonyms

Lolium italicum

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Sow onto moist but well-drained empty vegetable beds into fine, firm soil. Sow seeds 10-20mm deep and keep moist. Seedlings should appear within a few days in good growing conditions and provide a full crop within weeks. Ryegrass has the potential to become a nuisance if allowed to set seed or if not managed well. If used as a green manure over a short period this shouldn't be an issue, but aim to dig these in before April. See Using green manures or Green manures on the allotment for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown directly onto prepared empty vegetable beds from late spring to early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required. Cut down in spring and dig into the soil as organic matter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey leaf spot which is a fungal disease that can affect perennial ryegrass in particular

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