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Phacelia tanacetifolia - Green manure

Phacelia tanacetifolia
Fiddleneck, Green Manure

3,7/5
4 reviews
0 reviews
1 reviews
1 reviews
1 reviews

I had called the flower promise service to make sure that it wasn't seeds producing flowers with sterile seeds. Since this was not mentioned anywhere on the label, the person I spoke to told me that "no" and that they would self-seed. Unfortunately, not a single plant regrew the following year, out of the 100m2 that were sown...

Virginie, 05/03/2023

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

A panacea for the garden: honey-producing, highly aesthetic and fragrant, this annual plant prevents leaching of the soil which is aerated and nourished by its roots, which provide necessary nitrogen.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
1.20 m
Spread at maturity
40 cm
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
14 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing
Sowing period March to September
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time June to September
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Harvest time May to November
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

Phacelia tanacetifolia is a panacea for the garden: it is honey-producing, very aesthetic and fragrant, and it prevents leaching of the soil. Its roots aerate the soil and provide it with necessary nitrogen.

Phacelia tanacetifolia or Tansy-leaved Phacelia is an annual plant from the Boraginaceae family. Native to North America, it is useful in the vegetable garden for several reasons. As a highly honey- and nectar-producing plant, it attracts insects to the benefit of all other plants present. To attract these pollinators, it has developed a delicious scent. It also fits perfectly into an intelligent crop rotation system that enriches, aerates, and allows the soil to rest. Its abundant root system aerates the soil and prevents leaching during heavy rainfall. Crop rotation allows for the cultivation of plants with different nutrient requirements each year without depleting the soil too much. Generally four types of plots are considered, which are not necessarily grouped together:

  • Plot 1 is dedicated to leafy vegetables
  • Plot 2 is dedicated to fruiting vegetables
  • Plot 3 is dedicated to grain vegetables
  • Plot 4 is dedicated to root vegetables

A rotation is carried out from one year to the next, with leafy vegetables giving way to root vegetables, and so on. To allow the soil to rest and regenerate, a fifth step is increasingly added: the use of green manure, such as Phacelia.

This undemanding plant thrives in any type of soil, even the most difficult and dry, as long as it receives enough sunlight. Despite its wildflower appearance, it has a very sculptural habit with its scorpioid inflorescence curling up like a crozier as the small lavender-blue to deep blue flowers bloom. Its deeply cut foliage resembles that of tansy and quickly forms beautiful clumps over 1 m (3.3 ft) in height.

Finally, at the end of the season, this beautiful Phacelia serves as green manure, either directly buried in the soil or incorporated into compost to enrich it with nitrogen.

Harvesting: after flowering, the flowers form dehiscent capsules containing 4 very dark seeds. It is then time to mow it, grind it, and bury it in the soil to enrich it with nitrogen.

Storage: Phacelia tanacetifolia can be buried in the soil to enrich it with nitrogen or incorporated into compost with the same objective.

Gardener's tip: the dense root system of Phacelia tanacetifolia prevents the establishment of adventive plants. Knowing this, it can be beneficial to cultivate it in an area where you want to get rid of "weeds". However, it is necessary to weed before cultivating it.

Phacelia tanacetifolia - Green manure in pictures

Phacelia tanacetifolia - Green manure (Flowering) Flowering
Phacelia tanacetifolia - Green manure (Foliage) Foliage
Phacelia tanacetifolia - Green manure (Plant habit) Plant habit

Harvest

Harvest time May to November
Type of vegetable Green fertilizer
Size of vegetable Medium
Interest Colour, Productive

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.20 m
Spread at maturity 40 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Phacelia

Species

tanacetifolia

Family

Boraginaceae

Other common names

Fiddleneck, Green Manure

Origin

North America

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference82644

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Planting and care

Soil preparation and sowing: Frugal and simple, the Phacelia tanacetifolia is satisfied with any type of soil, even the most ungenerous. It simply requires that the soil be weeded and loosened to a depth of 2 to 5 cm (2 in) using a garden fork. In spring, from March to July, you can sow the seeds evenly over the entire surface. Cover with a little soil, firm down with a rake, and then water.

Maintenance: Once its tasks have been completed, the Phacelia tanacetifolia requires no special care. Water regularly during the first few weeks to keep the soil moist if necessary. The flowers appear in early summer and last until autumn, and the plants can be cut down as soon as they disappear.

1
€7.50 Bag
17
€14.50 Each

Seedlings

Sowing period March to September
Sowing method Direct sowing
Germination time (days) 14 days

Care

Soil moisture Tolerant
Disease resistance Very good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Slope, Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil Light
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130
3,7/5

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