Hairy vetch (Vicia eriocarpa)
Care, watering, light and tips for Hairy vetch on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 5 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Hairy vetch
Vicia eriocarpa, commonly known as Woollypod Vetch, is a fast-growing annual legume highly valued for its use as a green manure and cover crop. It features climbing or decumbent stems with pinnately compound leaves and small purple or blue flowers. It's ideal for improving soil structure in vegetable gardens and allotments, providing nitrogen and suppressing weeds.
Native range
Mediterranean region and Middle East
Care tips
Woollypod Vetch thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to a wide range of soil types, though it prefers well-drained, fertile soils. Watering should be moderate, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings; it is drought-tolerant once established. A common mistake is sowing it too late, which can limit its growth as a green manure; it's best to sow in autumn or early spring. It does not require additional fertilization, as its primary function is to enrich the soil.
How to save a dying Hairy vetch
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or pale leaves, slow or stunted growth, general wilting, soft stems.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture. Ensure good aeration and soft light. Fertilize lightly if deficient.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causing root rot, or very compact soil hindering root development.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not fully rotted and the issue is corrected promptly. Act fast.