Green manure for the garden: when to sow and bury, which are better and the rules for use

To get a rich harvest of fruit crops, gardeners use both organic and mineral fertilizers. And if chemicals are not always safe for human he alth and are not cheap, then organics consist of natural components and do not harm the environment. When choosing siderates for your garden that effectively saturate the soil with nutrients, you need to figure out how to sow and mow them correctly in order to get the result.

What are green manure and what are they for?

Green manure plants are crops that are planted on the site not to harvest fruits from them, but to saturate the soil with useful components that increase yields.Those gardeners who have a negative attitude towards the use of chemicals in their gardens prefer organic matter, including green manure. Such crops, no worse than store-bought fertilizers, enrich the soil with nitrogen and organic compounds necessary for the development of fruit plants.

Their only drawback is that you will have to wait for the whole season to get the desired result, since green manure must first be grown, mowed and planted in the soil, and only after that they will begin to saturate the earth with all the necessary components.

As a rule, such crops are sown in the spring, with the arrival of the first warm days, and harvested in the middle of summer, so it will not work for some time to use the plot for growing agricultural plants. Therefore, experienced gardeners sow green manure on other beds every season, and use the land saturated with organic matter for fruit crops.

In addition to top dressing the soil, these herbs have several other useful properties, they are:

• thanks to a powerful and branched root system, they help strengthen the soil and prevent its cracking, especially in arid regions;
• loosen heavy clay soils and promote better oxygen access;
• contribute to good permeability of the earth in the beds;
• repel certain pests and destroy a number of pathogenic microorganisms leading to the development of crop diseases.

What are the types?

Each green manure plant is characterized by its unique properties and has advantages and disadvantages. Organic fertilizer is selected depending on the fruit crops that are planned to be grown in the garden.

The most common siderates include the following types:

1. Beans. The legume group includes lentils, peas, sweet clover, clover, vetch, lupine and alfalfa. The main advantage of this type of green manure is the saturation of the soil with a huge amount of nitrogen, so legumes are especially popular with gardeners.
2. Cruciferous. This species includes radish, mustard and spring rapeseed. Plants included in this category, no worse than manure, fertilize the soil and, in addition, cleanse the land of pathogens. They are unpretentious to growing conditions and quite hardy.
3. Cereals. Representatives of this species (oats, rye, sorghum) contain a record amount of protein, as well as a high concentration of potassium.
4. Buckwheat. This category includes the only green manure, this is buckwheat. It is characterized by the ability to reduce the acidity of the soil after incorporation, and also, thanks to a well-developed root system, fully loosens the soil.
5. Compositae. This species includes calendula and sunflower. With proper cultivation, they give an abundant green mass, and the sunflower has roots that go deep into the ground up to 2 meters, due to which it loosens the soil. Another advantage of this species is its unpretentiousness to growing conditions.
6. Hydrophiles. The group also has the only green manure - phacelia. In addition to all the useful qualities inherent in other crops, it has a unique ability to repel nematodes that infect the root system of fruit plants.
7. Amaranth. The only representative of the group - amaranth - is characterized by the ability to stimulate the activity of beneficial bacteria and microorganisms, while the plant itself is not afraid of pest invasions and tolerates adverse weather conditions.

Influence on different soil types

Green manure plants have an effect depending on the type of soil that prevails in the garden. The same green manure behaves differently on different types of soil.

If the site has acidic soil, it is recommended to sow plants from the hydrophilic group, as they regulate the indicators, bringing them closer to neutral values. Cereal siderates are also suitable. This type of soil is not suitable for cruciferous crops.

On heavy soils, a good solution would be to plant amaranth and sunflowers, which will loosen them with their roots and make them air and moisture permeable. On light sandy soils, legumes are ideal.

Properties and terms of disembarkation for different green manures

Each green manure plant has its own preferences for growing conditions and optimal sowing dates. For crops to benefit the garden, you must follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners.

Lupin

Lupin is a capricious green manure, so he needs a full-fledged agrotechnical care.To improve performance, it is better to choose an annual type of lupine, which is simply mowed after reaching a certain height. Perennial varieties reproduce very quickly and quickly fill the entire area.

The favorable period for planting green manure falls on mid-August, in which case, before the onset of cold weather, he will have time to build up a rich green mass and form beans. After growing this crop, the earth is saturated with a large amount of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. However, it must be remembered that lupine is sensitive to a lack of moisture, so additional watering is organized.

Sowing peas

The advantage of this green manure crop is the high concentration of protein in the composition. Most of the nutrients in the green mass of the plant accumulate by the time the pods are filled. Peas are sown at the end of April in the southern regions and in the first half of May in the middle lane.When the crops reach 15 cm in height, they are cut and dug up with soil.

If the crop is planted in autumn, it is worth adding superphosphate to the soil to accelerate the development and growth of green mass.

Bob Russian

Considered one of the best siderats due to the branched root system, which goes deep into the ground no less than a meter. It is recommended to plant a bean on heavy soils with excess moisture, but with a neutral reaction, since the plant does not develop well on acidic soil. It must be remembered that legumes cannot be sown after it.

The timing of sowing depends on the region of cultivation: the end of April, the beginning of May. Mow the green mass after the crop begins to bloom.

Vika

On the roots of this plant from the legume family there are entire colonies of nitrogen fixers, due to which the soil is fully saturated with nitrogen in a short time. Since the culture is not afraid of the cold, it is allowed to plant it as soon as the snow melts and the soil warms up.

This is an excellent predecessor for vegetables such as peppers, eggplants and tomatoes, and is not suitable for sowing before other legumes, as well as beets and garlic. A well-developed root system loosens the soil and increases its aeration and water permeability. It is also recommended to plant vetch in the near-stem circle of fruit trees, as it prevents cracking of the ground.

Clover

When planning to grow clover as green manure, it must be remembered that the plant is moisture-loving, in addition, red prefers shaded places, and white, on the contrary, sunny areas. In addition to saturating the topsoil with nutrients, the crop converts hard-to-digest phosphates into easily digestible ones.

As green manure, clover begins to fulfill its functions of saturating the soil with nitrogen only from the second year of cultivation. The plant is sown in early spring in well-moistened soil, deepening the material by 2 cm. After 5 days, the first shoots appear.

Tansy-leaved phacelia

A crop such as phacelia is considered a universal green manure, as it can be sown before and after any crop. It not only supplies the soil with potassium and nitrogen, but also reduces the acidity of the soil. In addition, there are much fewer weeds in the area where phacelia is planted.

Another advantage of this green manure is that it can be sown throughout the season, from the first warm days of spring to autumn. Since phacelia seed has good germination, it does not need to be pre-stratified.

Mustard and rapeseed

Mustard grows faster than other green manure, and saturates garden soil with phosphorus and sulfur. In addition, the roots of the plant secrete certain substances that allow the destruction of pathogens of fungal diseases. In terms of growth rate, rapeseed is not inferior to mustard, but both crops should not be planted before representatives of the Cruciferous family.Most often, mustard is sown in the spring, and rapeseed is sown before winter.

Seradella

An annual plant from the legume family saturates the earth with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In addition, seradella has a branched root system, due to which it loosens the soil and makes it more moisture permeable. The crop is sown on the first warm spring days, and mowed during the flowering period.

Rye

Rye as green manure is sown before winter, then with the first sunny days it will rise and begin active growth. Of the advantages of this crop, it is worth noting the ability to retain snow in the fields, prevent soil cracking and the development of diseases.

Oats

This culture is unpretentious in terms of growing conditions and soil composition, the only thing a plant needs for full development is moisture. Thanks to green manure, the amount of phosphorus, potassium and organic substances in the soil increases.Sow the material as soon as the soil warms up, after the snow melts.

Cut buckwheat

Culture has a short growing season and is used for planting as green manure between rows and on grape plantations. It improves the characteristics of depleted soil by increasing its content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Sowing of the material begins in May, when the top layer of soil warms up to 10 degrees.

Radish seed

Culture has a powerful rod-type root system and loosens not only the top layer of soil, but also deeper ones. Since radish contains essential oils, it destroys pathogens of fungal diseases that live in the ground, as well as insect pests.

The spring months are considered the preferred time for sowing seeds, if you delay planting, the plant will not have time to grow a sufficient amount of green mass.

Clover officinalis

Growed as a biennial plant and used for medicinal purposes and as green manure crop. He needs a lot of sun and heat, as well as alkaline soil. Thanks to a powerful root system that penetrates 1.5 m deep, nutrients get not only into the upper layers of garden soil. Sow sweet clover material in late April or early May, depending on the growing region.

Tagetes

In this plant, in addition to nutritional components, there is a certain substance that destroys pathogenic microorganisms that live in the ground. Flowers are planted with the arrival of warm spring days, the greatest effect from cultivation is observed in the second year.

Sunflower

The root of this plant penetrates to a depth of 2 meters, so sunflower is planted if it is necessary to improve the characteristics of the lower soil layers. Sowing seeds is carried out at the end of April or the first half of May. They mow the crop without waiting for the formation of a flower with seeds.

Amaranth crimson

Amaranth is one of the champions in terms of protein content, which is found in both leaves and seeds. The crop is planted in early May, and mowed when an abundant green mass is formed.

Multicolor chaff

To grow this crop as green manure, good land and a sufficient amount of moisture are needed, due to the demanding conditions, chaff is rarely used by gardeners. It enriches the soil with nitrogen and improves its structure.

Where and how to sow?

If it is decided to sow annual green manure crops in the summer cottage, then they do it in the garden before planting fruit vegetables. You can also place green manure plants between rows, then mow and bury without disturbing the main crops.

In the event that the gardener decided to let the soil rest throughout the season, sowing green fertilizer can be carried out throughout the summer. Another option is winter sowing after harvest.

The instructions for the seed material indicate the consumption of seeds per hundred square meters, so these recommendations are followed during work.

Which green manure crops are suitable for which crops?

It is important not only to choose green manure with useful properties, but also to take into account its compatibility with subsequent crops. Otherwise, the gardener, instead of benefit, will receive a weakening of fruit plants and a decrease in yield.

For cucumbers

Such a cultivated plant as a cucumber is unpretentious to its predecessors. As green manure, you can use oats and rye, radish and mustard, clover, peas and beans. Green fertilizers are sown both before growing the main crop and after harvesting. It is also possible to place green manure between the rows, but periodically cut the green mass after planting so that it does not obscure the sunlight of the cucumbers.

For potatoes

Before growing potatoes, it is recommended to use green manure belonging to the legume family. They saturate the soil with the protein necessary for the formation of large vegetable tubers. Plants such as beans, peas, lupins and sweet clover are ideal. Herbs of other types (phacelia, mustard, rapeseed) are less effective, but have one advantage - they destroy pathogens of common diseases. Green manure material is sown both in spring and autumn, however, experienced gardeners recommend the second option.

After planting, if necessary, green manure is watered so that they gain more green mass. As soon as buds form on them, they are immediately mowed and embedded in the ground or used as mulch.

For tomatoes

Tomato predecessors can be different green manure, each plant has its own advantages and disadvantages, so they are guided by the needs of the soil. Green manure works in several ways:

• mustard saturates the earth with basic elements and repels pests, and also prevents cracking of the soil;
• Vetch increases yield from each bush up to 30%;
• alfalfa improves soil structure;
• phacelia corrects acidity, prevents the growth of fungi in the soil.

Planting green manure plants is not prohibited throughout the season.

For cabbage

To improve the soil and increase its fertility, green manure crops such as peas, alfalfa, clover, lupine and seradella are used. Sideration will be successful if you follow the recommendations of experienced farmers and do not use unsuitable herbs that will slow down the formation of cabbage heads.

If a summer resident started growing green manure for the first time, he should pay attention to a plant like lupine.The annual reaches readiness already 50 days after sowing the seeds, after which the green mass is mowed and embedded in the ground or used as mulch, and cabbage seedlings are planted in this place.

What diseases and pests are effective against?

The healing properties of green manure crops are an additional advantage of green manure. Depending on the variety, they have the following effect:

1. Rye sown after harvesting potatoes allows you to destroy nematodes. The fact is that the roots of this cereal plant secrete a certain substance that the pest does not tolerate, and leaves this place.
2. If you plant flax between the rows of potatoes, Colorado potato beetles, which cannot tolerate the smell of crop leaves, will disappear from the garden.
3. To protect strawberry beds, marigolds are planted with a pungent aroma.
4. With the help of phacelia, it will be possible to cope with the spread of fungal diseases in the area and such a pest as wireworm.

Terms and rules for cleaning green manure

The terms of harvesting green manure plants depend on the time of sowing, as well as their vegetative development. As a rule, plants sown before winter are mowed in April or May, when they form enough green mass. Crops planted in spring are cut in early summer.

Slopes can be used to make compost, bury in topsoil, or spread around plantings as mulch.

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