visionspictures.com A hardy upright, annual ryegrass with blue-green stems which can be grown as a green manure to improve soil structure, suppress weeds and prevent nitrogen loss from the soil during the winter. 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
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Sow onto moist but well-drained empty vegetable beds into weed-free, finely raked soil and keep moist. Allow the plants to overwinter, letting the foliage wilt before cutting down and digging into the soil in spring. Wait for a few weeks before planting your crops. See Using green manures or Green manures on the allotment for further advice
Propagate by seed sown directly onto prepared empty vegetable beds from late spring to early autumn
No pruning required. Cut down in spring and dig into the soil as organic matter
May be susceptible to fungal diseases, rust and blight