Seradella 'Aza'

Another lovely annual, a member of the bird's-foot trefoil family. Serradella also produces pods that resemble bird's feet! This legume blooms with large, pale purple to red flowers resembling sweet peas. The plant roots well and grows 60-80 cm high. This legume is capable of binding nitrogen from the air and storing it in its roots. When mowed and dug in, this nitrogen becomes available to other plants. Sow from March to August. 500g per 140 m2. Grows on light clay or sand, easily mowed.

To avoid depleting your valuable soil, it's wise to let the ground lie fallow occasionally. During such a period, green manure is ideal: it introduces nutrients into the soil through often present nitrogen fixation; it suppresses weed growth, promotes bacterial life, provides humus, and in some cases, works against harmful nematodes.

Names:
Latin: Ornithopus sativus
Dutch: Serradelle
English: Serradella