Vicia cracca. Tufted vetch. Peasair na luch.

Description

Common name: Tufted vetch. Peasair na luch.

General:

This population originates from Co Down. Irish Grid reference: J594448.
Scrambling climbing perennial. Beautiful bluish-violet small pea flowers on racemes that stick upright, showing out through the greenery.

Benefits:
Great for bees of all kinds and fixes nitrogen into the soil. An arable edible the green parts good in moderation for livestock, a green manure or cover crop.

Habitat:
Grassy, shrubby places including hedgerows and the like.

Sowing guidelines:
Sow from late autumn to early spring in trays or modules, prick out into modules, then plant out when large enough. Germination will be substantially increased if you scarify this seed. The best way we have found is to take a nic out of the side of the seed – you must protect the endosperm, to do this make sure you avoid the hylum when cutting. Soak the seed for – 4 hours only, then sow in seed compost in the usual way.

Cultural history:

Avg contents: 25 seeds.