Common vetch.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Annual legume

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 3 bis 7 Tage

Endgröße

3 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 4 bis 9

Blütezeit

Late spring to early summer

Pflege

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.

Gießen

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

Düngen

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

Schneiden

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

Umtopfen

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

Boden

Well draining loam

Boden-pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatur

-15 bis 30°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

40 bis 70%

Sicherheit

Menschen

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

Kinder

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

Kontaktallergene

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

Allergene in der Luft

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

Essbarkeit

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

So erkennst du die Pflanze

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

Höhe

0,3 bis 0,9m

Breite

0,2 bis 0,4m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

purple, pink, 1 bis 2cm

Früchte

brown, black, Summer

Häufige Probleme

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

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

spring, autumn

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

Gute Pflanzpartner

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

Ähnliche Arten

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

Botanisches

Familie

Fabaceae

Gattung

Vicia

Ordnung

Fabales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

Artenschutz

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.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nitrogen fixer, nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen, Schmetterlinge

Verwendung

cover crop, green manure, forage, ornamental meadow plant

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

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.

Woher der Name kommt

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

Gut zu wissen

• 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.