Penstemon and herbs in France Blog: Great green manure

Penstemon and herbs in France Blog: Great green manure: As well as using our kindly donated donkey poo, suffering the stench of rotting comfrey and nettles, we had the honour of receiving blue lup...

Great green manure

As well as using our kindly donated donkey poo, suffering the stench of rotting comfrey and nettles, we had the honour of receiving blue lupin seeds. I say "honour" as apparently the french farmer, from where they ultimately came, doesn't give his seeds away and the villagers are very possessive over them.

When our friend offered us some seeds we were delighted as we often see them on the way to Limoges at the side of the motorways (peages)but obviously it would be a bit hazardous to stop on the verge to collect some seeds!

They are such a giving plant. In January they were one of the first seeds to burst forth and put a smile on my face.

At this stage the plants are attractive to mice in the way that peas are so they were stored higher up once they emerged and then planted out in March. The seedlings were interesting as they grew, slightly different from the hybrid lupins and very fleshy.

Now we have the first of the flowers, far in advance of the hybrid lupins that I sowed at the same time. They add to the blues that are currently prominent in the garden and are filling out gaps so well.

The flowers are great for pollinating insects and are attractive to the eye. The plant itself is used to good effect as a soil improver due to it's ability to add nitrogen back in and it's long tap root is good for breaking up heavy or compacted soils. An all round good green manure.

A handy note: dig in the green plants before flowers are formed to avoid them becoming a pest but keep a few flowering plants for the insects.

Do you use green manure? Tell us more...

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