Vetch ‘Namoi Woolly Pod’ Green Manure Seeds
Botanical Name: Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa
Namoi Woolly Pod Vetch is a robust cool-season legume ideal for green manure, cover cropping, and pasture improvement in southern and eastern Australia. With its trailing, vine-like habit and distinctive hairy pods, this vetch is known for rapid biomass production and strong winter growth. Its deep root system helps improve soil tilth, and its nitrogen-fixing capacity builds fertility for following crops. Highly versatile, Namoi is a great companion to cereals such as oats or ryecorn in diverse cover crop mixes.
- Fixes atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with rhizobia bacteria.
- Thrives in cool-season rotations, especially when paired with cereals.
- Dense ground cover suppresses weeds and protects soil from erosion.
- Produces abundant organic matter for incorporation or mulch.
- Well adapted to a range of soils, including light clays and loams.
- Hairy foliage and pods improve pest resistance and grazing value.
Plant Details:
- Plant Type: Annual winter legume
- Growth Habit: Vining or trailing, up to 1 m
- Flowering: Purple flowers in late spring; woolly seed pods follow
Sowing Information:
- Sow When:
Temperate: March–June
Subtropical: April–July
Tropical: Cooler months or dry season (May–July)
Cool: March–May
Arid: Autumn post-rain or irrigated - Germination: 7–14 days
- Depth: 2–4 cm deep
- Position: Full sun to part shade
- Sow Where: Broadcast or drill in prepared soil
- Soil Type: Prefers well-drained loams and clays, pH 5.5–7.5
- Spacing: 2–5 g/m² or 10–25 kg/ha depending on mix
When to Sow Namoi Vetch in Your Climate
| Climate Zone | Best Planting Time | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Temperate | March–June | Excellent winter green manure; sow with oats for structure. |
| Subtropical | April–July | Ideal for autumn plantings; avoid summer heat stress. |
| Tropical | May–July | Use during cooler dry season for best performance. |
| Cool | March–May | Frost-hardy; sow into moist beds early in season. |
| Arid | Autumn or after rain | Ensure soil moisture at sowing; may need mulching. |
Quick Growing Guide
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Germination Time | 7–14 days |
| Sowing Depth | 2–4 cm |
| Watering | Moderate; rain-fed in most climates once established |
| Growth Period | 8–12 weeks to maturity for green manure use |
| Incorporation | Cut before flowering and dig into soil for best nitrogen return |