Common vetch.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Annual legume

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

3 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 4 a 9

Floración

Late spring to early summer

Cuidados

Sow seeds directly into the ground during cooler months for best results. Keep an eye out for aphids and ensure the soil drains well to prevent root rot. It is quite self sufficient once established.

Riego

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy while the plants are actively growing.

Abonado

As a legume, it fixes its own nitrogen and rarely requires supplemental fertilizer.

Poda

Trim back if the plant becomes too sprawling or to encourage bushier growth.

Trasplante

This plant is typically grown as an annual in the garden and does not require repotting.

Suelo

Well draining loam

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

-15 a 30°C

Humedad

40 a 70%

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is generally considered safe in small amounts, but raw seeds contain lathyrogens that can cause health issues if ingested regularly.

Niños

Keep children away from the seed pods, as they pose a choking hazard and should not be eaten raw.

Alérgenos por contacto

Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

The pollen can trigger mild allergic reactions in those prone to hay fever.

Comestibilidad

While the seeds are sometimes consumed, they contain compounds that can be toxic if eaten in large quantities or improperly prepared.

Cómo identificarla

• Compound leaves with tendrils
• Small purple or pink flowers
• Slender, hairy stems
• Seed pods containing multiple seeds

Altura

0,3 a 0,9m

Anchura

0,2 a 0,4m

Hojas

green, deciduous

Flores

purple, pink, 1 a 2cm

Frutos

brown, black, Summer

Problemas frecuentes

• Aphids — Small insects that cluster on stems and suck plant juices.
• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that creates a white dusty coating on leaves.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed

Cuándo plantar

spring, autumn

Sow vetch alongside grasses to provide the necessary support for its climbing habit.

Buenas compañeras

• Avena — Oats provide structural support for the vetch to climb.
• Winter Rye — They work together as a cover crop to suppress weeds.

Especies parecidas

• Vicia villosa — It is a hardier relative often used for similar agricultural purposes.

Ciencia

Familia

Fabaceae

Género

Vicia

Orden

Fabales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

Conservación

It is a widespread and common species with no specific conservation concerns.

It thrives in disturbed soils and meadows, using its tendrils to scramble over surrounding vegetation.

Valor para la fauna

nitrogen fixer, nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas

Usos

cover crop, green manure, forage, ornamental meadow plant

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is common vetch invasive?

It can be aggressive in some gardens but is generally manageable as an annual.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in containers if given a trellis for support.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name Vicia is the classical Latin name for vetch, while sativa means cultivated.

Bueno saberlo

• It has been cultivated as a fodder crop since ancient times.
• The tendrils allow it to climb over other plants for better light access.
• It is a member of the pea family.