Common vetch

Vicia sativa

Layer 4 · Herbaceous
Nitrogen fixer

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the Mediterranean basin, common vetch is a fast-growing annual legume. It is widely used as a green manure due to its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. It provides abundant biomass and improves soil structure.

It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.

See which trees common vetch grows well with

These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Medium
Light: Full sun
Size: Annual herb up to 80 cm
Mature diameter: 0.4 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Planting
May — Harvest
June — Harvest
July
August
September — Planting
October — Planting
November — Planting
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Slightly toxic if consumed raw and without adequate processing.

Where to buy

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.