Tagetes as green manure: rules for use and how fertilizer is useful

The yield and resistance of horticultural crops to pests largely depends on the quality and composition of the soil. Therefore, when growing plants, gardeners often use mineral or organic fertilizers, which eliminate the lack of nutrients in the soil. However, it is not always possible to provide sufficient top dressing. In such cases, the use of marigolds as a green manure (a plant that replaces fertilizer) helps.

The benefits and harms of marigolds for the country garden

Useful properties of marigolds (tagetes) are determined depending on the zone of growth. These flowers are grown near:

1. Nightshade (potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and others). This neighborhood prevents the reproduction of aphids, nematodes, whitefly, weevil, Colorado potato beetle and other pests.
2. Strawberries. A plant next to tagetes is less likely to become infected with gray rot.
3. Cabbage. This combination reduces the risk of cabbage fly and whitefly breeding.
4. Luke. The smell that marigold exudes repels the root mite and secretive proboscis.

Marigolds are used to repel insects when growing seedlings. To do this, the plant is planted simultaneously with vegetable crops in the greenhouse.

Gardeners pay attention to other features that marigolds are useful for. The roots of these flowers contain a substance that prevents growth in the garden:

• garden purslane;
• creeping wheatgrass;
• horsetail and other weeds.

In addition to fighting worms and insects that live in the soil, marigolds also provide another useful service: this plant protects against fungal infections. At the same time, despite the described properties, tagetes can harm some crops. Planting flowers next to legumes is highly discouraged.

Using the biological properties of a flower

Due to prolonged use, the fertile soil layer is compacted, which makes it difficult to dig the garden every year. Planting specific plants, or green manure, which include marigolds, helps to cope with this problem.

The flowers improve the composition of the soil and are used to make compost or liquid fertilizer, as a mulch or as a component in the preparation of solutions that are used to treat vegetable crops.Among the important features of marigolds is that the effect of the effect of tagetes persists for 5-6 years.

Tagetes as fertilizer

One of the most common ways to use marigolds is to use the flowers as a fertilizer. Moreover, to feed fruit and vegetable crops, you can either plant this plant in the garden, or add it to compost or mulch.

Growing as green manure

Tagetes are distinguished by a fibrous root system. Therefore, if the plant is used as green manure, in the fall it is necessary to cut off the upper part of the flowers. The roots left in the ground improve oxygen microcirculation and prevent the development of fungal infections.

If you plan to use marigolds as an organic fertilizer, it is recommended to cut the flower stems 2 months after planting and put the tops in the soil. Stems rot in the ground, increasing the content of useful trace elements.

Mulching

Using tagetes for mulching, it is necessary to cut, chop and scatter flowers with stems in the garden with the onset of autumn, and then dig up the garden. With the onset of spring, the culture will completely decompose. This mulch will increase the nitrogen and other micronutrients in the soil. At the same time, the rate of moisture penetration will increase. It is not recommended to use tagetes as mulch in spring, as the plant does not have time to decompose before planting fruit crops.

Must

The best and easiest way to prepare fertilizer is to create humus. To do this, you will need to dig a hole in the garden with the onset of autumn and lay down the stems and roots of marigolds. Then the plants should be compacted and poured with plenty of water. By spring, the humus will be ready for use in the garden.

Liquid fertilizer

In addition to the above methods, marigolds are recommended to use for the preparation of liquid fertilizer. To do this, you need to grind and place the stems with flowers in a large container (wooden, plastic or ceramic), filling the composition with water. Raw materials are recommended to be pressed down with a press. Then the mixture must be kept in a dark place for two weeks.

During the specified period, the fermentation process starts, which is evidenced by the foam that appears on the surface of the water. As soon as the composition darkens, the fertilizer is ready for use.

This mixture is used for watering plants. This fertilizer accelerates fruiting and improves growth. Before introducing top dressing into the soil, it is recommended to dilute the mixture with clean water in a ratio of 1:9. If the composition is used for spraying crops, then a ratio of 1:20 is used.

Use in compost

There are different points of view on whether marigolds can be buried along with other plants used in composting. In fact, this option for using flowers is considered successful. Most gardeners recommend putting marigold tops in the compost pit, as tagetes inhibit pathogenic bacteria and destroy cockchafer larvae.

Use the plant as a fungicide and herbicide

The substances that make up marigolds make it possible to use this flower to control pests and diseases.

Pest control solution

To get an effective solution against pests, you will need to mix tagetes with other similar plants:

• tobacco;
• wormwood;
• nettle;
• alfalfa;
• mustard;
• fuck;
• tomatoes.

From the resulting mixture should take no more than two kilograms and add 10 liters of water. The solution is infused for two days in a dark room. After straining, 10 liters of water are re-added to the mixture. The resulting composition is recommended to process fruit and vegetable crops every 5 days. To increase the effectiveness of the solution, at the stage of preparation of funds, 40 grams of liquid soap should be added to the mixture. The latter will increase the viscosity of the composition. Thanks to this, the product will last longer on the leaves of the plant and will be better absorbed.

Before planting gladioli, lilies and tulips, it is recommended to keep the bulbs of these flowers in the described mixture for 8-10 hours. This procedure helps to reduce the risk of plant infection with fungal infections.

Soil disinfection

Fresh marigolds are used to disinfect the soil. To do this, it will be necessary to bury cut stems and flowers (without roots) in the ground in the garden with the onset of autumn. During the winter, the plant overheats, producing substances that destroy nematodes and other insects harmful to fruit and vegetable crops.

You can also use tagetes for decontamination “under fallow”, when flowers are planted for the season on an empty garden bed, and next year vegetables are placed here.

Folk recipes for infusion from aphids

To destroy or prevent the appearance of an aphid colony, you will need to fill half of a 10-liter bucket with chopped marigolds (both stems and flowers will be required), and pour the rest with warm (50-60 degrees) water. The composition must be infused for two days. After straining, 40 grams of laundry soap is added to the solution.

The resulting agent is used to treat the affected plant from a spray bottle in the following volume:

• up to 8 liters - for an adult tree;
• up to 4 liters - for shrubs;
• up to 3 liters - per 10 square meters of the garden.

In case of strawberry aphid infestation, you will need to infuse chopped marigolds in cold water, soak tansy in hot water for two hours and grate a clove of garlic (each ingredient will require no more than 200 grams). Then all components are mixed and filled with 10 liters of water.

It is necessary to process crops with the above means until the complete disappearance of aphids.

Weed control

Tagetes are successfully used in weed control. To do this, it is enough to plant flowers in the garden, between fruit and vegetable crops. Marigolds, due to the released substances, inhibit the growth and development of various weeds.

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