Common vetch.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Annual legume

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

3 feet

Croissance

Rapide

Rusticité

USDA 4 à 9

Floraison

Late spring to early summer

Entretien

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.

Arrosage

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

Engrais

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

Taille

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

Rempotage

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

Sol

Well draining loam

pH du sol

6.0 to 7.5

Température

-15 à 30°C

Humidité

40 à 70%

Sécurité

Humains

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

Enfants

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

Allergènes de contact

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

Allergènes aéroportés

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

Comestibilité

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

Comment l'identifier

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

Hauteur

0,3 à 0,9m

Envergure

0,2 à 0,4m

Feuilles

green, deciduous

Fleurs

purple, pink, 1 à 2cm

Fruits

brown, black, Summer

Problèmes courants

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

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed

Quand planter

spring, autumn

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

Bonnes associations

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

Espèces similaires

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

Science

Famille

Fabaceae

Genre

Vicia

Ordre

Fabales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

Préservation

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.

Intérêt pour la faune

nitrogen fixer, nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

cover crop, green manure, forage, ornamental meadow plant

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

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.

D'où vient le nom

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

Bon à savoir

• 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.