Organic Green Manure Sainfoin

Green Manure, Sainfoin
Latin name Onobrychis viciifolia
Sowing Rate: 1kg per 100 sq. metres.

Green manures are plants grown specifically to improve the soil. They do this in a number of ways: by being deep rooted; by covering the soil to prevent leaching of nutrients; by fixing nitrogen; by breaking up the soil with fibrous root structures. In all cases they are dug or mulched back into the soil adding organic matter which helps retain moisture and feeds the soil’s beneficial organisms. To dig in chop up the green manure with a spade and turn it into the top few inches, 10-12cm or so, of soil. Mulching out is the easier option, cut down if necessary and leave the clippings on the soil then cover to exclude the light using cardboard and grass cuttings or a biodegradable ground cover. Keep covered for at least 6 weeks, but longer if you do not need the ground, by which time most of the green manure would have broken down and incorporated into the soil by earthworms.
Good soil is the major and underlying principle for organic growing and green manures play a vital role. Use them to cover bare ground particularly over winter.

Sainfoin is particularly effective on dry, shallow soils which are not too acidic (pH above 6.5). Perennial, winter hardy legume. Can withstand drought due to deep network of roots.Sainfoin is often cultivated as a protein rich fodder plant and nitrogen fixing soil improver. Rich pink flowers, with a good flow of nectar and pollen for bees. Sowing depth: 2-3 cm. Can be left for several years. Sow March-May as the soil starts to warm up or can be sown September-October.

How to grow
Sow March-May or September to October.
Normally you would have recently harvested a crop from the ground where now you are going to grow green manure. In which case not much cultivation is required. Fork or rake over to get a fairly good tilth and remove any weeds. Scatter the seed over evenly and lightly rake in. Water the seedlings if the weather is very dry.

When to use
Dig in or mulch out when the leaves are green and before flowering. As you are wanting to incorporate the soft, green, nitrogen rich foliage.