Common Vetch
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Common Vetch
Vicia sativa L
Common Vetch- a member of the Papilionaceae family is primarily used as a cover crop, green manure, and for pasturage and hay-making. It's especially valuable in cool-weather areas. It's also called Spring or Pebble Vetch, Tare or Fitches, and is a cousin of peas, beans, clovers and alfalfa. The Fava, Greek or Broad Bean is a robust very close relative, Vicia Faba. There are many varieties of Vetch and organic cultivars are available. This is a great crop to use in an organic garden as a green manure.
Ideal Site- Vetch grows best in a sunny open site. This crop does not tolerate shade, but can grow in almost any type of soil. Prior to planting apply a low fertility soil improver to the site if not improved by a previous crop. If growing as a herb or vegetable it is best to grow in a raised bed as the crop can be invasive. The ideal soil pH is 6.5-7
Seed to Harvest- 60-70 days
Cultivation- If vetch is used as a cover crop or in a meadow, station sow using a seed spreader. It is best to use a high quality organic seed, to minimize the risk of disease. When used, as a cover crop be sure to cut the down the vetch in order to eliminate volunteer shoots from appearing next season. Vetch should never be grown in the same area for more than 3 consecutive years.
Plant Care- Water vetch when dry but do not over water. The plant is neither drought tolerant or tolerant of overly wet conditions. When growing as a vegetable use a trellis or teepee to train shoots. Vetch will grow 2-3ft (60-90cm) Harvesting- When growing common vetch as a vegetable the bean pods can be eaten like other legumes. When young the tips are succulent and can be eaten raw or added to salads. The seeds are also edible. Problems- Vetch can be affected by pea aphid, cutworm, corn earworm, armyworm, grasshoppers, lygus bugs and leafhoppers. Diseases that affect vetch are black stem, stem rot and downy mildew. . If it is grown as a cover crop than pest and diseases are rarely a problem
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