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Common Vetch in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Vicia sativa syn. Vicia bacla ; Vicia communis ; Vicia glabra ; Vicia nemoralis

 

Common Vetch

Vicia are annuals, herbaceous perennials or climbers. The leaves can be simple, or divided into small leaflets, often ending in a tendril. Vicia sativa - 'Common Vetch' - is an annual scrambling, twining stemmed plant, with curly tendrils. The leaves are in opposite pairs along the stem, and are oval and folded. The flowers, which appear in Spring until early Autumn, are pink-purple, pea-like flowers borne singly or in pairs. The fruit is a legume pod, 6 or 7 cms long, hairy when new, becoming smooth later, brown or black when ripe. It contains 4–12 seeds. This plant can be used as a green manure, or as fodder.

Contributed by @crestiesneuk

 
plant Features
  • Common Vetch likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Common Vetch likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Common Vetch is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Common Vetch likes free draining

    Free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Common Vetch

Latin name

Vicia sativa syn. Vicia bacla ; Vicia communis ; Vicia glabra ; Vicia nemoralis

type

Herbaceous Perennials or annuals

family

Fabaceae

ph

5.5 - 8.2 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Common Vetch likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Common Vetch is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Common Vetch likes free draining

    Free draining

  • Water

    Common Vetch likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom
  •  
    When to harvest

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Common Vetch is 0.15meters x 0.70meters 0.15 M 0.70 M

Vicia sativa syn. Vicia bacla ; Vicia communis ; Vicia glabra ; Vicia nemoralis

Vicia are annuals, herbaceous perennials or climbers. The leaves can be simple, or divided into small leaflets, often ending in a tendril. Vicia sativa - 'Common Vetch' - is an annual scrambling, twining stemmed plant, with curly tendrils. The leaves are in opposite pairs along the stem, and are oval and folded. The flowers, which appear in Spring until early Autumn, are pink-purple, pea-like flowers borne singly or in pairs. The fruit is a legume pod, 6 or 7 cms long, hairy when new, becoming smooth later, brown or black when ripe. It contains 4–12 seeds. This plant can be used as a green manure, or as fodder.


Flowering

From Late Spring TO Early Autumn

Pea-like flowers appear in late Spring right through to early Autumn

 

Planting

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

Grow in moist soil, preferably in full sun. The seed should be sown in situ, as this plant does not transplant well

 

Propagating by seed

From Late Winter TO Early Summer

Sow seed in situ. The seed is hard-coated, and so, to aid germination, soak the seed in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. The soil should be moist but free-draining. Can be sown from late Winter to early Summer, and again in Autumn

 
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