Veggie Patch Winter layers

I used Trefoil last year on my veggie patches once everything was out. They grew to create a thick layer of greenery which looks nice, adds serious nitrogen to the soil when dug in and keeps weeds down. I've head loopins are good like that too. Anyone heard of any other ideas along those lines?

 

Winter cover crops such as oats or rye have long been used as green manures.
Fava beans
Mustard
Clover
Vetch (Vicia sativa)
Buckwheat in temperate regions
Lupin
Fenugreek
Sunn hemp, a tropical legume
Alfalfa, which sends roots deep to bring nutrients to the surface.
Velvet bean

 

Thanks Feebo , I was going to plant green manure this year but forgot all about it until this post
As I am totally green to green manure - Is it to late to sow Trefoil now ? Do I just dig it into the soil next spring ?

TIA

 

Nope, not too late. I haven't even got all of my parsnips out yet! lol Yep just dig it in when you need your patch back. Trefoil really takes well and forms a good dense layer. It has pretty little yellow flowers too Whoa! Thanks for that list! That's coming to the garden centre with me today

 

I likes Mustard, Fenugreek & Alfalfa, as you can eat the leaves too.

 

S**t and step back in it ! Just ordered trefoil cost me £1.50 on Ebay. That's my spends for next week. :(

 

Haven't tried Trefoil before, think I'll give it a go this year.
Sowed two large packets of Field Beans as green manure last autumn.
Green manure? Nope.
Pigeon food? Oh yes. Every last one.
Won't be making that mistake again.

 

I like pigeons. They eat my crops but I do enjoy a chat with them & cuddling the occasional one.

 

Heya all,

so sorry to sound like a complete noob but I was just wondering if I got this thread right. So the plants like trefoil are planted after the last harvest before the winter and will grow until next spring. Then when I want to use the bed again I can simply turn the soil with the plants still in it?

Would that be the best solution to give nutrients back to the soil before the new season or is turning the soil before the winter and before planting enough if I add comfrey tea before planting?