An overview of the best green manure for the 7 main types of soil
Content
For loosening dense soil
Siderata 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 the beds when growing cultivated plants. When the crop is harvested, it's time to sow green manure.
Legumes
Legumes loosen the soil, saturating it with nitrogen. They inhibit the growth of weeds. Their action is akin to fresh manure. Sow peas between cucumber beds and you will harvest incredibly tasty fruits.
Mustard
To the question "What 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 plowed, the main crops can be planted in two weeks. When it grows, young seedlings of cultivated plants can hide in its shade, but weeds have no chance of survival.
Cruciferous
Cruciferous plants improve the quality of the soil and increase its moisture and air permeability. They do an excellent job of loosening deep soil layers. 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 deepen to a depth of 2 m, thereby improving its structure.
Phacelia
Phacelia will make the soil loose. If sown in the fall, then it will become an excellent protection against soil freezing. Such a green manure plant will strengthen the light soil, reducing the degree of its acidity.
Video "The use of green manure in the fall"
In this video, you will learn how to improve the soil without fertilization using green manure.
For disinfection of rot and scab
Hydrophilic plants are a powerful weapon against bacteria, as they increase the aeration coefficient of the soil. Green manure plants are also called orderlies.
Oats
Oats are good at suppressing weeds and structuring the soil. Its seeds can often be bought mixed with legumes. Oats in the root system have a special substance that fights root rot. An excellent result is obtained when it is planted together with vetch.
Mustard
In the summer months, sown mustard is a welcome guest in the beds with peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. She effectively fights scab and late blight.
Phacelia
Phacelia is a versatile 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 melts.In addition, substances are found in its tissues that inhibit the development of fungi, pathogens of rot and scab.
Which is better as a siderat - phacelia or mustard, you decide.
To get rid of pests
Phacelia
By planting phacelia, you are guaranteed to scare away aphids, moths, wireworms from cultivated plants. 50 days after planting, the siderat begins to bloom. At this time, it is carefully cut off and embedded in the ground. You don't have to mow before planting crops. Phacelia will cordially protect "neighbors" from cold winds. Cut greens are used to mulch the 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 ground. 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 leaching of the minerals necessary for the soil.
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 cannot 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 off with a flat cutter and the planned culture is planted on top.
Donnik
Melilot are not fond of nematodes, wireworms and mice. The plant is frost resistant. Grows well on heavy soils and saline soils, but with a neutral reaction. The best time for planting is spring. Planting in summer and autumn is also permissible.
For dry land
Cereals
Cereals improve the structure of the soil, it becomes able to greedily "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, rape, phacelia, which give a lot of green mass and prevent the leaching of mineral elements.
Vika
Vika will turn any soil, even dry, in 3 years into loose fine black soil. Siderat saturates the soil with nitrogen, perfectly loosens the top layer and promotes the release of phosphates, which do not dissolve well.
For structureless soil with erosion processes
Cereals
Cereals not only inhibit the growth of weeds - with their powerful roots, depriving them of their right to exist, they also prevent the leaching 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 up the soil, it is enough to slightly loosen it, and you can plant vegetables.
Clover
Clover protects the earth from weathering. Its roots also make the ground loose, oxygenated and more humid. Sow it in spring or summer, watering abundantly (the plant loves moisture). You can not sow it for 2-3 years. Together with beneficial bacteria, it saturates the soil with humus.
Oats
Thanks to its strong and long roots, oats protect light soils from erosion and prepare the soil for a wide variety of crops.
Plant green manure plants between rows, and you not only protect crops 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 soil. White prefers sandy and loamy soil, yellow prefers sandy soils, blue grows well on acidic soil.
Clover
For wet soil, clover is a good green manure. Plant it in tree-trunk circles, and you will not only decorate the garden, but also provide fruit trees with natural mulch. When planting, it should be borne in mind that the plant grows very quickly and braids the roots of all plants that are nearby.
For poor organic matter
Legumes
Leguminous plants saturate the soil with nitrogen. Melilot, for example, not only improves the soil, but also accumulates nitrogen in the soil. It is hardy, restores calcareous soils. Peas, beans and lentils should not be planted after leguminous green manure - this is how diseases and pests can be transmitted.
Winter crops
Winter rapeseed and rapeseed increase the quality of the land. The proximity of these plants brings significant benefits to cultivated plants, since they make phosphorus compounds readily assimilated. They also prevent other minerals from being washed out of the soil, making it a storehouse of nutrients.
Oats
Oats fill the soil with phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen. For best results, it is sown with spring vetch or peas. It grows in almost any soil. It is the best precursor for cucumbers. The plant perfectly loosens clay soils.
Buckwheat
If you have not yet decided which green manure plant is better to sow, then try buckwheat. They will saturate the earth with phosphorus, potassium and other organic compounds. In addition, they will give a special lightness to the soil. Greens and husks are used for mulch in the garden.
Phacelia
The green mass of phacelia is rich in nitrogen. It grows everywhere, even on stony ground. It can be safely called a miracle siderat. The plant is not afraid of shading, drought, or frost. The best effect is given by planting phacelia with legumes.
Lupine
Lupine has an interesting feature: thanks to its two-meter roots, on which nitrogen-fixing bacteria live, it absorbs nitrogen from the depths and transports it to the surface. Another advantage of this green manure is that it helps neighboring cultures to assimilate phosphorus and its compounds. It is sown in May. After 8 weeks, the greens are ready for mowing and fertilizing the soil.
Broad beans
Broad beans are a good source of nitrogen. Remember that the plant must be mowed on time, otherwise it will complicate the loosening of the soil. Adhering to the law of crop rotation, it is not necessary to grow fodder beans on the site for 3 years.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa has incredibly powerful roots that enrich the soil with organic matter, taking them from the deep layers of the soil. It grows quickly, gives a large amount of green mass.
Vika
Planting vetch in the garden will not only enrich the soil with nitrogen, but also increase the yield of tomatoes by half. It will also preserve melons and pumpkin seedlings.
Winter crops, oats, rye, vetch, clover, lupine, phacelia are the best autumn green manures. Over-matured for the winter, green manure plants will give up all the nutrients to the soil, providing enriched soil for new plantings.