White Clover 'Barblanca' makes as excellent long-term green manure. It has good frost tolerance and once established can last from 2-5 years. White Clover makes a good weed suppressant as it produces a fair amount of foliage and is able to fix nitrogen.

White Clover 'Barblanca' is a low growing variety (15-30cm tall) that can be topped (cut) and this stimulates the roots to grow more & fix more nitrogen. It spreads by a network of creeping stems close to the surface so try not to cut back too harshly. It is shallow rooting and if conditions are dry its growth will slow down.

White Clover can be intercropped & sown in between soft fruit eg blackcurrants or other long-lived perennials and this then acts as a living mulch. It is part of the legume family so treat as such for crop rotation purposes.

White Clover Green Manure Seed Information

When to Sow:

March, April, May, June, July, August.

Growing period:

6 months or 2-5 years.

Ideal Soil Type:

Most especially silt loam & clay soils but can be tolerant of poor drainage.

Nitrogen fixer:

Yes.

How to Sow:

Clear weeds especially perennials ones, rake the soil to a fine tilth and broadcast sow seeds at a rate of 1.5g per sq m. Rake in to a depth of 0.5cm, firm soil and lightly water. Keep moist to help germination.

Care:

The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.

Sow Rate:

1.5 grams per square metre.

Pack Weight / Area:

25g

17m²

50g

33m²

100g

67m²

250g

167m²

When to Sow White Clover Green Manure Seeds

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