{"id":3557,"date":"2025-06-21T12:10:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T11:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/?p=3557"},"modified":"2025-06-21T12:48:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T11:48:07","slug":"orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025<\/span><\/h2>\n

Well, we finally got around to hand-sowing the seed, and then we were hit with +4 weeks of no rain.<\/p>\n

We hand-raked the soil, which was like concrete, to a depth of 20mm. And then scattered to seed, like hand-feeding chickens. But because the seed had such a variable size, from dust to rice grain size, we had to ensure it was continually being mixed in the bag. Then to take a handful from the bottom of the bag, and scatter them. Followed by flattening the area by walking on it, this would ensure damp soil contact with the seed.<\/p>\n

We originally was going to sow the full width of the alley, but we decided on just a narrow band. This was so we could walk on either side without any damage.<\/p>\n

After a few weeks you could see a green haze of the shoots coming through.<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then only 1 week later they put a spurt on. Not that we had any rain, but we had very heavy dew in the mornings. Note the width, only a third of the alley width, and a walking area either side,<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the seedlings growing, you can just make out the species growing; in this case, there is clover.<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, another 2 weeks later, they were of a height that you cannot walk through them.<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, fast-forward another week to 21st June 2025, and some of the flowers are coming out.<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The radish is certainly growing fast. We had to reseed some of the radish in a few areas that were stripped by the pigeons. We used Tillage radish, as it has a particularly deep tap root, which helps to improve soils structure and drainage by drilling down through heavy soils and compacted layers.<\/p>\n

You can see in the about photo a lot of leaf notching and holes, which is an indicator of the flea beetle. If not too severe, they can grow out of it and survive. But if you have a bad infestation, the options are to lose the plants or to spray.<\/p>\n

Flea beetles are <\/span>small, jumping insects that can cause significant damage to radish plants by eating small, round holes in the leaves. <\/span>These pests are particularly problematic for young seedlings and in hot, dry weather when they multiply rapidly. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A couple of photographs showing that some species are in flower already. Some of the mustards are flowering as well, but I missed that, and they now have seed pods.<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The above photo is Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) – Nitrogen lifter. Fast to establish summer cover. Large root mass to improve soil. A favourite for insects due to its high nectar output. Good on light soils. Sow from May. Must be destroyed prior to seeding to avoid volunteers in the following season.<\/p>\n

\"alleyway-spring-2025\"<\/a>
alleyway-spring-2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The above photo looks like Hairy Vetch\u00a0(Vicia villosa), which is strange as I never ordered any. Must keep an eye on this one to see if the flower develops more.<\/p>\n

So I think the next update to this Blog will be late August, heading towards autumn time.<\/p>\n

SEE PT4 for the NEXT STAGE<\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 Well, we finally got around to hand-sowing the seed, and then we<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1584,1583,1587,1585,1586,1589,1588,1590,1591,1593,1592,1594,1595,1596,1346,1597,223,1598,1599,1601,1600,139,1602,1604,1603,1605,1606,1607,1608,1610,1609,1611,1613,1612,1615,1614,1624,1616,1617,1618,1619,1620,1621,1622,1623,1627,1625,1626,1628,1632,1630,1629,1631,1633,255,1634,1635,1637,1636,1638,1527,1639,1640,1528,1529,1641,1642,1644,1643,1646,1645,800,1648,1647,1649,1650,1651,1652,1653,1654,1655,1656,1657,1658,1659,1660,1661,1662,1663,1664,1665,1666,1669,1667,1668,17,1543,1670,1672,1671,1673,1674,1677,1675,1676,1678,1679,1680,1681,1682,1683,1685,1684,1687,1686,1689,1688,1690,1691,1692,1694,1693,1695,1696,1697,1698,1700,1699,1701,1703,1702,1704,1705,1706,1707,1708,1709,1710,1711,1712,1714,1713,247,1715,1196,1716,1717,1718,1719,1720,1721,1722,10,1723,1726,1724,1725,1727,1728,1729,1730,57,1733,1731,1732,1734,1736,1735,1738,1737,826,1739,1741,1740,1742,1743,1744,1745,77,1746,1565,1748,1747,1749,1750,911,1751,1752,1754,1753,1756,1755,1757,1758,1759,607,1760,1761,946,1571,1762,1763,1764,1766,1765,1767,1768,1769,1770,1771,1772,1775,1773,1774,1776,1777,1778,1779,1780,1781,1782,1784,1783,1786,1785,1787,1788,1789,1790,1792,1791,1794,1793,1795,1796,283,1797,1798,1799,1800,1801,1802,1803,1804,1805,1806,1807,1809,1808],"class_list":["post-3557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fruit-and-nut-growing-experiences","tag-achillea","tag-achillea-millefolium","tag-alleyway","tag-alleyway-mix","tag-alleyway-orchard","tag-alsike","tag-alsike-clover","tag-altaswede-late","tag-amounts-nectar","tag-anthriscus","tag-anthriscus-sylvestris","tag-attractive-insects","tag-aurora-alsike","tag-autumn-hawkbit","tag-bees","tag-biomass","tag-bird","tag-bird-food","tag-birds-wildlife","tag-birdsfoot","tag-birdsfoot-trefoil","tag-black","tag-black-oats","tag-borage","tag-borage-borago","tag-borago-officinalis","tag-borneo-amenity","tag-break-compacted","tag-british-wild-flower","tag-buckwheat","tag-buckwheat-weed","tag-buddy-white","tag-burnet","tag-burnet-forage","tag-centaurea","tag-centaurea-scabiosa","tag-certified","tag-certified-altaswede","tag-certified-aurora","tag-certified-borneo","tag-certified-buddy","tag-certified-esquire","tag-certified-leo","tag-certified-puna","tag-certified-sparta","tag-chicory","tag-chicory-blend","tag-chicory-cichorium","tag-cichorium-intybus","tag-clover","tag-clover-nitrogen","tag-clover-nitrogen-fixing","tag-clover-trifolium","tag-cocksfoot","tag-common","tag-common-toadflax","tag-common-valerian","tag-compacted","tag-compacted-layers","tag-compaction","tag-cotswold-seed","tag-cotswoldseeds","tag-cover","tag-cover-crop","tag-cover-cropping","tag-cow-parsley","tag-cowslip-primula","tag-crosswort","tag-crosswort-cruciata","tag-cruciata","tag-cruciata-laevipes","tag-dwarf","tag-dwarf-perennial","tag-dwarf-perennial-ryegrass","tag-echium-vulgare","tag-ecological","tag-endure-chicory","tag-erosion","tag-esquire-dwarf","tag-fescue","tag-flooding","tag-flower-autumn","tag-flower-chicory","tag-flower-cow","tag-flower-crosswort","tag-flower-greater","tag-flower-hoary","tag-flower-rough","tag-flower-sainfoin","tag-flower-viper","tag-flower-yarrow","tag-flowering-red","tag-forage","tag-forage-herb","tag-forage-rye","tag-fruit","tag-fungi","tag-gram-approx","tag-greater","tag-greater-knapweed","tag-green-manure","tag-hard-wearing","tag-hawkbit","tag-hawkbit-leontodon","tag-hawkbit-scorzoneroides","tag-heavy-soils","tag-herb-borage","tag-herb-parsley","tag-high-amounts","tag-high-biomass","tag-hispidus","tag-hoary","tag-hoary-plantain","tag-hoverflies","tag-hoverflies-predatory","tag-humbolt","tag-humbolt-forage","tag-improve-soil","tag-improves-soil","tag-insects-hoverflies","tag-knapweed","tag-knapweed-centaurea","tag-laevipes","tag-large-root","tag-late-flowering","tag-leo-birdsfoot","tag-leontodon","tag-leontodon-hispidus","tag-lifter-high","tag-linaria","tag-linaria-vulgaris","tag-linseed","tag-loosestrife-lythrum","tag-lythrum-salicaria","tag-manure-buckwheat","tag-manure-phacelia","tag-mass-improve","tag-millefolium","tag-mustard","tag-nectar","tag-nectar-rich","tag-nectar-rich-attracts","tag-nematodes","tag-nematodes-wireworms","tag-nitrogen","tag-nitrogen-fixer","tag-nitrogen-fixing","tag-nitrogen-lifter","tag-nutrients-deep","tag-oats","tag-officinalis","tag-onobrychis-viciifolia","tag-orchard","tag-orchard-alleyway","tag-parsley","tag-parsley-anthriscus","tag-parsley-plain","tag-pathogens","tag-penetration-heavy","tag-perennial-alleyway","tag-perennial-ryegrass","tag-pests","tag-phacelia","tag-phacelia-nitrogen","tag-phacelia-tanacetifolia","tag-plain-leaved","tag-plantago","tag-plantago-media","tag-plantain","tag-plantain-plantago","tag-pollen","tag-pollen-nectar-rich","tag-predatory","tag-predatory-wasps","tag-primula-veris","tag-prone-flooding","tag-purple-loosestrife","tag-radish","tag-red","tag-red-clover","tag-reduce-erosion","tag-ribgrass","tag-ribgrass-forage","tag-root-mass","tag-root-system","tag-rough","tag-rough-hawkbit","tag-rye","tag-ryegrass","tag-ryegrass-sow","tag-s-bugloss-echium","tag-sainfoin-onobrychis","tag-scabiosa","tag-scavenge-nutrients","tag-scorzoneroides-autumnalis","tag-seed","tag-seed-birds","tag-seeds-green-manure","tag-soil","tag-soil-compaction","tag-soil-penetration","tag-soil-structure","tag-soil-borne-pathogens","tag-sorghum","tag-sorghum-seed","tag-sow","tag-sparta-cocksfoot","tag-special-perennial","tag-spring-linseed","tag-spring-sow","tag-spring-wheat","tag-subsoil","tag-subsoil-aerator","tag-subsoil-loosener","tag-suppress-weeds","tag-suppressor","tag-sweet-clover","tag-sylvestris","tag-symbol-mustard","tag-tall-fescue","tag-tanacetifolia","tag-tillage","tag-tillage-radish","tag-toadflax","tag-toadflax-linaria","tag-toxic-soil-borne","tag-trace-elements","tag-trefoil","tag-trifolium-pratense","tag-valerian","tag-valerian-valeriana","tag-valeriana","tag-valeriana-officinalis","tag-viper-s-bugloss","tag-vulgaris","tag-wasps","tag-water-quality","tag-waterlogging","tag-weed-suppression","tag-weed-suppressor","tag-weeds-nematodes","tag-white-achillea","tag-white-clover","tag-wild-bird","tag-wild-flower","tag-wildlife","tag-wireworms","tag-yarrow","tag-yarrow-white"],"yoast_head":"\nOrchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 - The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Spring 2025\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 - The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Spring 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-21T11:10:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-21T11:48:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"923\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"923\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"qwertyqweryt61\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"qwertyqweryt61\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"qwertyqweryt61\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc29a888c6a0474ddcf37157425396e6\"},\"headline\":\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-21T11:10:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-21T11:48:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":590,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"achillea\",\"achillea millefolium\",\"alleyway\",\"alleyway mix\",\"alleyway orchard\",\"alsike\",\"alsike clover\",\"altaswede late\",\"amounts nectar\",\"anthriscus\",\"anthriscus sylvestris\",\"attractive insects\",\"aurora alsike\",\"autumn hawkbit\",\"bees\",\"biomass\",\"bird\",\"bird food\",\"birds wildlife\",\"birdsfoot\",\"birdsfoot trefoil\",\"black\",\"black oats\",\"borage\",\"borage borago\",\"borago officinalis\",\"borneo amenity\",\"break compacted\",\"british wild flower\",\"buckwheat\",\"buckwheat weed\",\"buddy white\",\"burnet\",\"burnet forage\",\"centaurea\",\"centaurea scabiosa\",\"certified\",\"certified altaswede\",\"certified aurora\",\"certified borneo\",\"certified buddy\",\"certified esquire\",\"certified leo\",\"certified puna\",\"certified sparta\",\"chicory\",\"chicory blend\",\"chicory cichorium\",\"cichorium intybus\",\"clover\",\"clover nitrogen\",\"clover nitrogen fixing\",\"clover trifolium\",\"cocksfoot\",\"common\",\"common toadflax\",\"common valerian\",\"compacted\",\"compacted layers\",\"compaction\",\"cotswold seed\",\"cotswoldseeds\",\"cover\",\"cover crop\",\"cover cropping\",\"cow parsley\",\"cowslip primula\",\"crosswort\",\"crosswort cruciata\",\"cruciata\",\"cruciata laevipes\",\"dwarf\",\"dwarf perennial\",\"dwarf perennial ryegrass\",\"echium vulgare\",\"ecological\",\"endure chicory\",\"erosion\",\"esquire dwarf\",\"fescue\",\"flooding\",\"flower autumn\",\"flower chicory\",\"flower cow\",\"flower crosswort\",\"flower greater\",\"flower hoary\",\"flower rough\",\"flower sainfoin\",\"flower viper\",\"flower yarrow\",\"flowering red\",\"forage\",\"forage herb\",\"forage rye\",\"fruit\",\"fungi\",\"gram approx\",\"greater\",\"greater knapweed\",\"green manure\",\"hard wearing\",\"hawkbit\",\"hawkbit leontodon\",\"hawkbit scorzoneroides\",\"heavy soils\",\"herb borage\",\"herb parsley\",\"high amounts\",\"high biomass\",\"hispidus\",\"hoary\",\"hoary plantain\",\"hoverflies\",\"hoverflies predatory\",\"humbolt\",\"humbolt forage\",\"improve soil\",\"improves soil\",\"insects hoverflies\",\"knapweed\",\"knapweed centaurea\",\"laevipes\",\"large root\",\"late flowering\",\"leo birdsfoot\",\"leontodon\",\"leontodon hispidus\",\"lifter high\",\"linaria\",\"linaria vulgaris\",\"linseed\",\"loosestrife lythrum\",\"lythrum salicaria\",\"manure buckwheat\",\"manure phacelia\",\"mass improve\",\"millefolium\",\"mustard\",\"nectar\",\"nectar-rich\",\"nectar-rich attracts\",\"Nematodes\",\"nematodes wireworms\",\"nitrogen\",\"nitrogen fixer\",\"nitrogen fixing\",\"nitrogen lifter\",\"nutrients deep\",\"oats\",\"officinalis\",\"onobrychis viciifolia\",\"orchard\",\"orchard alleyway\",\"parsley\",\"parsley anthriscus\",\"parsley plain\",\"pathogens\",\"penetration heavy\",\"perennial alleyway\",\"perennial ryegrass\",\"pests\",\"phacelia\",\"phacelia nitrogen\",\"phacelia tanacetifolia\",\"plain leaved\",\"plantago\",\"plantago media\",\"plantain\",\"plantain plantago\",\"pollen\",\"pollen nectar-rich\",\"predatory\",\"predatory wasps\",\"primula veris\",\"prone flooding\",\"purple loosestrife\",\"radish\",\"red\",\"red clover\",\"reduce erosion\",\"ribgrass\",\"ribgrass forage\",\"root mass\",\"root system\",\"rough\",\"rough hawkbit\",\"rye\",\"ryegrass\",\"ryegrass sow\",\"s-bugloss echium\",\"sainfoin onobrychis\",\"scabiosa\",\"scavenge nutrients\",\"scorzoneroides autumnalis\",\"seed\",\"seed birds\",\"seeds green manure\",\"soil\",\"soil compaction\",\"soil penetration\",\"soil structure\",\"soil-borne pathogens\",\"sorghum\",\"sorghum seed\",\"sow\",\"sparta cocksfoot\",\"special perennial\",\"spring linseed\",\"spring sow\",\"spring wheat\",\"subsoil\",\"subsoil aerator\",\"subsoil loosener\",\"suppress weeds\",\"suppressor\",\"sweet clover\",\"sylvestris\",\"symbol mustard\",\"tall fescue\",\"tanacetifolia\",\"tillage\",\"tillage radish\",\"toadflax\",\"toadflax linaria\",\"toxic soil-borne\",\"trace elements\",\"trefoil\",\"trifolium pratense\",\"valerian\",\"valerian valeriana\",\"valeriana\",\"valeriana officinalis\",\"viper s-bugloss\",\"vulgaris\",\"wasps\",\"water quality\",\"waterlogging\",\"weed suppression\",\"weed suppressor\",\"weeds nematodes\",\"white achillea\",\"white clover\",\"wild bird\",\"wild flower\",\"wildlife\",\"wireworms\",\"yarrow\",\"yarrow white\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Fruit and Nut growing experiences\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/\",\"name\":\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 - The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-21T11:10:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-21T11:48:07+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc29a888c6a0474ddcf37157425396e6\"},\"description\":\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Spring 2025\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg\",\"width\":923,\"height\":923,\"caption\":\"alleyway-spring-2025\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk\",\"description\":\"Fruit and Nut growing experiences (trials and tribulations)\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc29a888c6a0474ddcf37157425396e6\",\"name\":\"qwertyqweryt61\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4d40622f5a39372ef55e128c27bba270ddfecd96e4203c819199ef2737946644?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4d40622f5a39372ef55e128c27bba270ddfecd96e4203c819199ef2737946644?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4d40622f5a39372ef55e128c27bba270ddfecd96e4203c819199ef2737946644?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"qwertyqweryt61\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gb-online.co.uk\\\/gb-wordpress\\\/author\\\/qwertyqweryt61\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 - The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk","description":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Spring 2025","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 - The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk","og_description":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Spring 2025","og_url":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/","og_site_name":"The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk","article_published_time":"2025-06-21T11:10:11+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-21T11:48:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":923,"height":923,"url":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"qwertyqweryt61","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"qwertyqweryt61","Estimated reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/"},"author":{"name":"qwertyqweryt61","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/#\/schema\/person\/bc29a888c6a0474ddcf37157425396e6"},"headline":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025","datePublished":"2025-06-21T11:10:11+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-21T11:48:07+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/"},"wordCount":590,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg","keywords":["achillea","achillea millefolium","alleyway","alleyway mix","alleyway orchard","alsike","alsike clover","altaswede late","amounts nectar","anthriscus","anthriscus sylvestris","attractive insects","aurora alsike","autumn hawkbit","bees","biomass","bird","bird food","birds wildlife","birdsfoot","birdsfoot trefoil","black","black oats","borage","borage borago","borago officinalis","borneo amenity","break compacted","british wild flower","buckwheat","buckwheat weed","buddy white","burnet","burnet forage","centaurea","centaurea scabiosa","certified","certified altaswede","certified aurora","certified borneo","certified buddy","certified esquire","certified leo","certified puna","certified sparta","chicory","chicory blend","chicory cichorium","cichorium intybus","clover","clover nitrogen","clover nitrogen fixing","clover trifolium","cocksfoot","common","common toadflax","common valerian","compacted","compacted layers","compaction","cotswold seed","cotswoldseeds","cover","cover crop","cover cropping","cow parsley","cowslip primula","crosswort","crosswort cruciata","cruciata","cruciata laevipes","dwarf","dwarf perennial","dwarf perennial ryegrass","echium vulgare","ecological","endure chicory","erosion","esquire dwarf","fescue","flooding","flower autumn","flower chicory","flower cow","flower crosswort","flower greater","flower hoary","flower rough","flower sainfoin","flower viper","flower yarrow","flowering red","forage","forage herb","forage rye","fruit","fungi","gram approx","greater","greater knapweed","green manure","hard wearing","hawkbit","hawkbit leontodon","hawkbit scorzoneroides","heavy soils","herb borage","herb parsley","high amounts","high biomass","hispidus","hoary","hoary plantain","hoverflies","hoverflies predatory","humbolt","humbolt forage","improve soil","improves soil","insects hoverflies","knapweed","knapweed centaurea","laevipes","large root","late flowering","leo birdsfoot","leontodon","leontodon hispidus","lifter high","linaria","linaria vulgaris","linseed","loosestrife lythrum","lythrum salicaria","manure buckwheat","manure phacelia","mass improve","millefolium","mustard","nectar","nectar-rich","nectar-rich attracts","Nematodes","nematodes wireworms","nitrogen","nitrogen fixer","nitrogen fixing","nitrogen lifter","nutrients deep","oats","officinalis","onobrychis viciifolia","orchard","orchard alleyway","parsley","parsley anthriscus","parsley plain","pathogens","penetration heavy","perennial alleyway","perennial ryegrass","pests","phacelia","phacelia nitrogen","phacelia tanacetifolia","plain leaved","plantago","plantago media","plantain","plantain plantago","pollen","pollen nectar-rich","predatory","predatory wasps","primula veris","prone flooding","purple loosestrife","radish","red","red clover","reduce erosion","ribgrass","ribgrass forage","root mass","root system","rough","rough hawkbit","rye","ryegrass","ryegrass sow","s-bugloss echium","sainfoin onobrychis","scabiosa","scavenge nutrients","scorzoneroides autumnalis","seed","seed birds","seeds green manure","soil","soil compaction","soil penetration","soil structure","soil-borne pathogens","sorghum","sorghum seed","sow","sparta cocksfoot","special perennial","spring linseed","spring sow","spring wheat","subsoil","subsoil aerator","subsoil loosener","suppress weeds","suppressor","sweet clover","sylvestris","symbol mustard","tall fescue","tanacetifolia","tillage","tillage radish","toadflax","toadflax linaria","toxic soil-borne","trace elements","trefoil","trifolium pratense","valerian","valerian valeriana","valeriana","valeriana officinalis","viper s-bugloss","vulgaris","wasps","water quality","waterlogging","weed suppression","weed suppressor","weeds nematodes","white achillea","white clover","wild bird","wild flower","wildlife","wireworms","yarrow","yarrow white"],"articleSection":["Fruit and Nut growing experiences"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/","name":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025 - The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-21T11:10:11+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-21T11:48:07+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/#\/schema\/person\/bc29a888c6a0474ddcf37157425396e6"},"description":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Spring 2025","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/alleyway-spring-2025-20250617_145900.jpg","width":923,"height":923,"caption":"alleyway-spring-2025"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/orchard-alleyways-cover-crop-pt3-spring-2025\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Orchard Alleyway\u2019s Cover Crop Pt3 \u2013 Spring 2025"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/","name":"The BLOG of www.gb-online.co.uk","description":"Fruit and Nut growing experiences (trials and tribulations)","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/#\/schema\/person\/bc29a888c6a0474ddcf37157425396e6","name":"qwertyqweryt61","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4d40622f5a39372ef55e128c27bba270ddfecd96e4203c819199ef2737946644?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4d40622f5a39372ef55e128c27bba270ddfecd96e4203c819199ef2737946644?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4d40622f5a39372ef55e128c27bba270ddfecd96e4203c819199ef2737946644?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"qwertyqweryt61"},"url":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/author\/qwertyqweryt61\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3557"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3571,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3557\/revisions\/3571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gb-online.co.uk\/gb-wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}