If you have been growing for a few years, you will know that the quality of your soil makes a huge difference to your crop.

Your plants will take a lot from the soil, so its essential you give back. Green Manure is a crop that will actually add nutrients and important organic matter to the soil.

Five great things to know about green manure:

1. There a two main types - Nitrogen Fixers, and non Nitrogen Fixers. non nitrogen fixers will generally be used to add organic matter to the soil and therefore help with water retention.

2. Soil Erosion - Green Manure will also stop your soil from eroding, soil erosion is a growing issue with unsustainable farming methods, so green more will ensure you are more sustainable.

3. Dig in the Green Menure before it flowers - Many green manures will flower and spread seeds all over you plot, its important you dig in before this happens.

4. Choose the right Green Manure - depending on the time of year and circumstance, not all are created equal, have a look at this useful chart to understand more about this.

5. Weed Supression - Green Manure due to its deep roots will help suppress weeds, reducing the amount of work, so worth while growing in any empty plots you have!

Green V's Brown - This is Mustard growing on the left, traditional manure on the right