First cultivation of ground outside.

The new planting season is upon us and we are about to start planting the outdoor crops. The green manure has been developing over the winter, seen here are the roots of the main three species sown. On the left is colts foot grass used for its root mass and ability to take up and hold onto nitrogen. In the centre are two plants of chicory with deep fleshy roots drawing nutrients from the lower levels of the soil and adding root mass then on the right is white cloevr used to fix nitrogen and add green mass to the soil.


First we graze the green manure with our Lleyn sheep, seen here the short plant tops and evidence of where the sheep have been. This leaves the sward in a good condition to be incorporated.
First we use the deep tines to break up the surface and aerate the soil and sub soil.


The chickens help themselves to any displaced soil fauna.


Then we use the tractor mounted rotovator to incorporate the green manure into the top 3" to 4" and break up the root growth to stop competition with crop plants. We will change the green manure mix this year as the chicory caused problems with re-growth pushing up the weed mulch.

The green manure rotovated, still showing green but this is a result of shallow cultivation which we do to retain the soil structure as much as possible. The mulch when laid will prevent too much re-growth.