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Description
Also known as garden vetch, tare, or simply vetch, Vicia sativa is a hardy plant and a valuable member of the Pea family. This sprawling annual legume is commonly grown as part of a crop mixture to support arable crops, thanks to its excellent nitrogen-fixing properties that improve soil health.
Recognised for its resilience and versatility, common vetch is an ideal fodder option for horses and cattle. Its tender flowers and leaves, which grow in the leaf axils, can be eaten raw or cooked, while its seed pods, produced in abundance along the stems offer a sweet, pea-like flavour.
Though it has long been part of the human diet, firm evidence of common vetch seed cultivation dates back to Roman times. Today, it remains a practical choice for sustainable agriculture, thriving in neutral to alkaline soils where it can naturally reseed itself each season.
Whether you’re enriching your soil, feeding livestock, or diversifying your edible garden, Vicia sativa brings real value to any growing environment.
