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Green manure plants are, in fact, natural fertilizer. They are sown on a separate plot or between beds, and then the fast-growing green part is cut off and dug into the ground. Thus, the soil without any “chemistry” becomes fertile. The article presents the best green manure for various types of soil.
For loosening dense soil
Green manures not only enrich the soil with microelements, but also loosen the soil, making it able to quickly absorb moisture and deliver oxygen to the root system. Experts recommend planting such plants between beds when growing cultivated plants. When the crop is harvested, it’s time to sow green manure.
pulse
Legumes loosen the soil, saturating it with nitrogen. They inhibit the growth of weeds. Their action is akin to fresh manure. Sow peas between the cucumber beds, and you will harvest incredibly tasty fruits.
Mustard
To the question “Which green manure is better to sow in early spring?” every gardener will say that mustard. A few months after sowing, it ripens. After the mustard is mowed and smelled, after two weeks, you can plant the main crops. When it grows, young seedlings of cultivated plants can take refuge in its shade, but weeds have no chance of survival.
Cruciferae
Cruciferous plants improve the quality of the soil and increase its moisture and air permeability. They do an excellent job of loosening the deep layers of the soil. It is only important not to plant radish and rapeseed before you grow cabbage in this place.
Amaranth
Amaranths are the best green manure plants for the garden. They will make the soil loose, supply nitrogen to the crops growing in the neighborhood. The plant can grow even on salt marshes, is not susceptible to disease, but does not like excessive moisture. Amaranth roots go deep to a depth of 2 m, thereby improving its structure.
Phacelia
Phacelia will make dense soil loose. If sown in the fall, it will be an excellent protection against freezing of the soil. Such a green manure plant will strengthen light soil, reducing its degree of acidity.
Video “Using green manure in the fall”
From this video you will learn how to improve the soil without fertilizers using green manure.
For disinfection of rot and scab
Hydrophilic plants are powerful weapons against bacteria, as they increase soil aeration. Green manure plants are also called orderlies.
Oat
Oats suppress weeds well and structure the soil. Its seeds can often be bought mixed with legumes. Oats in the root system have a special substance that fights root rot. It gives an excellent result when it is planted together with a vetch.
Mustard
In the summer months, sown mustard is a welcome guest in the beds with peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. It effectively fights scab and late blight.
Phacelia
Phacelia is a universal green manure. After she “lodged” on the ground, any vegetable crops and berry bushes will feel great. The culture is not afraid of frost, grows quickly and looks beautiful.
In the spring, the seeds of this green manure are determined in the ground after the snow has melted. In addition, substances are found in its tissues that inhibit the development of fungi, pathogens of rot and scab.
What is better as green manure – phacelia or mustard, you decide.
To get rid of pests
Phacelia
When planting phacelia, you are guaranteed to scare off aphids, codling moth, wireworm from cultivated plants. 50 days after planting, green manure begins to bloom. At this time, it is carefully cut off and embedded in the ground. You can not mow before planting cultivated plants. Phacelia will cordially protect the “neighbors” from cold winds. Cut greens mulch beds in the garden.
oil radish
Nematodes and locusts will be exterminated if you plant oil radish in your garden. This plant is actively growing on loose soil. You can sow it for the winter. It not only loosens the lower layers of the soil with its powerful roots, but also prevents the minerals needed by the soil from being washed out.
Lupine
Perennial lupine will stop all attempts by the Colorado potato beetle to spoil potatoes. It will also improve the airiness of the soil. It is good to plant it in front of plants that need nitrogen in the soil: tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, cucumbers.
Mustard
All pests that live in the soil do not tolerate mustard. The plant itself does not accept the proximity of groundwater. Mustard grows until the very cold and remains green even when it is covered with snow. In the spring, it is carefully cut with a flat cutter and the planned crop is planted on top.
Donnik
Sweet clover does not like nematodes, wireworms and mice. The plant is resistant to frost. It grows well on heavy soils and salt marshes, but with a neutral reaction. The best time for planting is spring. Plantings are also allowed in summer and autumn.
For dry land
Cereals
Cereals improve the structure of the soil, it becomes able to eagerly “drink” water. They can grow on any kind of soil, increasing its moisture permeability, and also prevent it from being washed out.
Drought-resistant plants are sown on dry land: rapeseed, colza, phacelia, which give a lot of green mass and prevent the washing out of mineral elements.
Vika
Vika will turn any soil, even dry, into loose fine black soil in 3 years. Siderat saturates the soil with nitrogen, perfectly loosens the top layer and promotes the release of phosphates, which are poorly soluble.
For structureless soil with erosive processes
Cereals
Cereals not only inhibit the growth of weeds – with their powerful roots, depriving them of the right to exist, they also prevent the washing out and weathering of the earth. After sowing, they are cut a couple of weeks before the main crop is planted. It is not worth digging the soil, just slightly loosen it, and you can plant vegetables.
Clover
Clover protects the earth from weathering. Its roots also make the earth loose, enriched with oxygen and more humid. Sow it in spring or summer, watering abundantly (the plant loves moisture). It can not be sown for 2-3 years. Together with beneficial bacteria, it saturates the soil with humus.
Oat
Thanks to their strong and long roots, oats protect light soils from erosion and prepare the land for sowing different crops.
Plant green manure plants between rows and you will not only protect the cultivated plants from weeds, but also protect the soil from weathering and rain.
For wet soil
Lupine
Where groundwater lies close to the surface, lupine is planted, which, depending on the variety, grows on different soils. White prefers sandy and loamy soil, yellow prefers sandy soils, blue grows well on acidic soil.
Clover
For moist soil, a good green manure is clover. Plant it in near-trunk circles of trees, and you will not only decorate the garden, but also provide fruit trees with natural mulch. When planting, it should be noted that the plant grows very quickly and braids the roots of all plants that are nearby.
For depleted organic matter
pulse
Legumes provide the soil with nitrogen. Sweet clover, for example, not only improves the soil, but also accumulates nitrogen in the soil. It is hardy, restores carbonate soils. After bean green manure, you should not plant peas, beans and lentils – this is how diseases and pests can be transmitted.
Winter crops
Winter rapeseed and colza increase the quality of the land. The proximity of these plants brings significant benefits to cultivated plants, since they make phosphorus compounds easily digestible. They also do not allow other minerals to be washed out of the soil, making it a storehouse of nutrients.
Oat
Oats fill the soil with phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen. For best results, it is sown with spring vetch or peas. Grows in almost any soil. It is the best predecessor for cucumbers. The plant loosens clay soils well.
Buckwheat
If you have not yet decided which green manure plant to sow, then try buckwheat. They will nourish the earth with phosphorus, potassium and other organic compounds. In addition, they will give a special lightness to the soil. On the mulch in the garden goes greens and husks.
Phacelia
The green mass of phacelia is rich in nitrogen. It grows everywhere, even on rocky soil. It can be safely called a miracle green manure. The plant is not afraid of shading, drought or frost. Planting phacelia along with legumes gives the best effect.
Lupine
Lupine has a curious feature: thanks to two-meter roots, on which nitrogen-fixing bacteria live, it absorbs nitrogen from the depths and moves it to the surface. Another advantage of this green manure is that it helps neighboring crops to absorb phosphorus and its compounds. Sow it in May. After 8 weeks, the greens are ready for mowing and fertilizing the soil.
Broad bean
Broad beans are a good source of nitrogen. Remember that the plant must be mowed in time, otherwise it will complicate the loosening of the soil. Adhering to the law of crop rotation, you should not grow fodder beans on the site for 3 years.
alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Alfalfa has incredibly powerful roots, which enrich the soil with organic matter, getting them from the deep layers of the soil. It grows quickly, gives a large amount of green mass.
Vika
By planting vetch in the garden, you will not only enrich the soil with nitrogen, but also increase the yield of tomatoes by half. It will also save seedlings of melons and pumpkins.
Winter crops, oats, rye, vetch, clover, lupine, phacelia are the best autumn siderates. Overwintered, green manure plants will give all the nutrients to the soil, providing enriched soil for new plantings.