Harvesting of Vicia sativa typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.
common vetch
Vicia sativa
Common vetch (Vicia sativa) is a hardy plant species, native to Europe but naturalized throughout the world. It has a difficult start, but with proper care and attention becomes a fast growing vine with abundant saucer-shaped flowers. Its leaves are dark green, and its white flowers bloom in the spring and summer. Common vetch provides important nitrogen-fixation and is therefore often used in crop rotations and companion planting. It can also serve as an ideal pasture crop where grazing is practiced and can be combined with all common grass species. Once established, common vetch is quite resilient and can provide a year round mat of cover and forage for wildlife.
Cycle:
Annual
Watering:
Frequent
Propagation:
Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division,Grafting Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
5
Flowers:
Purple, Pink Flowers In Spring
Sun:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Fruits:
brown,black Fruits In Summer Ready In Autumn
Edible:
Yes
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
High
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Common vetch should be watered moderately, approximately twice a week. When watering, soak the soil until the moisture has penetrated 8-10" deep, but be careful not to overwater as this can lead to root rot and other plant illness. If possible, water your common vetch in the morning, as this will ensure that the leaves are not wet overnight, reducing the chance of diseases. If common vetch is planted in containers, it may need to be watered daily, as the containers will dry out faster than in-ground planting.
sunlight
Common vetch (Vicia sativa) prefers to grow in full sun, meaning it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can also tolerate partial shade, potentially lasting up to 8 hours of sun per day. Direct sunlight helps vetch to grow and remain healthy, so it is important to provide a spot for this plant that has plenty of sunlight at the times of day when it is most intense. Differential sunlight (more intense in the morning and then again in late afternoon) should also be taken into account when growing this species.
pruning
Common vetch is typically pruned in the late spring or early summer, after blooms have faded but before the plant begins to produce seed pods. Vetch plants should be trimmed back to between 6 and 12 inches in height, making sure to remove any flower heads and seed pods that have already formed. Removing some branches entirely and thinning others is also a good idea as this will help to reduce overcrowding in the plant and possibly stimulate further blooming.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit
Starts Flowering
Common vetch typically starts flowering in April or May.
Harvest Fruit
Harvesting of Vicia sativa typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.
