Crimson Clover Green Manure is a good choice for smothering weeds, fixing nitrogen from the air and is a fast growing bulky green manure. It has deep roots that penetrate the soil and bulky furry foliage that once dug in helps to improve soil structure.
It is not always winter hardy especially if it is particularly cold, but if it does get frosted just leave the foliage on the soil surface as a mulch, then dig in during spring. When it does make it through winter it will produce lovely crimson flowers that are very attractive and loved by bees and other beneficial insects. Cut down or dig in before setting seed.
Clover is part of the pea family and fixes nitrogen from the air in its root nodules. (These are the little pink nodes found on the roots of the legume family). When chopped up and dug into the soil the nitrogen store is released fairly quickly.
If sown with a ‘nitrogen lifter’ like Italian Rye or Forage Rye the nitrogen will be released at a slower rate sometimes up to 6 months later so use will depend on when the following crop will be planted and the nitrogen needed. This is very important to large scale farmers and useful for small home/allotment growers. Sow clover before a brassicas in a crop rotation plan to release nitrogen to the following leafy greens.
