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Re: Green Manure

I have a heavy soil that becomes fairly waterlogged in winter because we 
get most of our rain between 01OCT and 01APR.  But our maritime climate 
is mild, with daytime high temps almost never below freezing and 
nightime temps average above -3 degrees (about 25 degrees Fahrenheit).  
The record lows are above -17 (approx zero F).  Most winters, the 
minimum for the year is around -6 or -7 (18-21 degrees F).

Governed by these factors, I choose to grow fava beans, which the 
British call broad beans and also called faba beans in Latin-based 
languages.  Certain varieties stand up well to moderately cold weather 
(although they are not as edible as the more sensitive varieties) and 
produce huge volumes of biomass that break down quickly when tilled in 
the spring.  Even if the tops are killed back by sudden intense cold, 
they usually grow back from established roots.  They have an added 
advantage of being a legume so they contribute N to the soil.  I have 
inspected fava bean roots in the spring that have clusters of nodules 
the size of peas.

The worst-case scenario for winter survival of favas is a warm autumn 
followed by intense cold, as the plants do not harden sufficiently.  
(This is true for all winter veg.)  So far this year we have the first 
half of that formula for disaster, as we have only had two very light 
frosts this year.  My Northern Spy apples aren't even ready to pick yet, 
and I usually get them the last of Oct.

Steve (Maritime Climate -- USDA Zone irrelevant) 

McAlpine, Duncan G wrote:
> 
> To get a thread going for November....
> 
> I plant on using Winter Rye to enrich my soil for spring. Do any of you
> apply a green manure in the fall to enhance your soil?  What do you use
> and why. I tilled up my lawn to grow pumpkins and now the winter rye is
> growing. My wife thinks it is ugly to see a pile of mud in the back yard
> but we made a deal.  I build a play house for my daughter and I get the
> lawn to grow pumpkins. She still has some of the lawn.....
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