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How to Reduce Nitrates in Vegetables: Techniques Any Gardener Can Do
09.05.2023 02:30
Many people believe that nitrates are found only in store-bought vegetables, but this is far from true.
When growing on a summer cottage plot, you can also get a harvest in which the permissible norm of nitrates is exceeded. But there are techniques that allow you to avoid this.
Don't get carried away with nitrogen
Nitration of food products occurs only if a lot of nitrogen is added to the bed. With a normal dosage, the plant receives the required amount of nitrogen and processes it in the process of photosynthesis.
If there is too much nitrogen, the plant cannot process it completely, so nitrogen in the form of nitrates accumulates in the leaves and fruits.
A common misconception is that nitrates are the result of adding mineral fertilizers. But the problem is that natural fertilizers (manure, cow dung, bird droppings or green grass infusion) are much more difficult to dose. You can’t measure out the amount of nitrogen that plants will receive in grams. Therefore, you should use natural fertilizers with even greater caution than mineral ones.
Do not use hot mulch.
In recent years, so-called hot mulching has become fashionable. This is when freshly cut grass is laid around the plants.
It flares up, releases heat and a huge amount of nitrogen, so cucumbers, peppers, squash, pumpkins grow very well. But their fruits are heavily nitrated.
Hot mulching can be used at the beginning of the season for crops that require a lot of nitrogen (cucumbers, squash). But it cannot be done throughout the season.
Apply fertilizer on time
Plants need nitrogen to build up green mass. This is usually spring and the first half of summer. At this time, plants need nitrogen and it needs to be applied. In the second half of summer, nitrogen fertilization should be reduced or stopped completely, as plants begin to form fruits, the need for nitrogen decreases, and the need for potassium increases.
As soon as the plant begins to set fruit, the application of nitrogen is reduced to a minimum (in complex fertilizers it should not exceed 7 percent). Nitrogen fertilization is completely stopped 2 months before harvesting.
Do not use fresh manure.
Fresh and semi-rotted manure generally has a negative effect on most plants, especially root crops.
It is best to put manure into compost. It is especially important to thoroughly compost pig manure, adding sawdust, straw, peat, and tree leaves to it.
Use these techniques to reduce the risk of nitrating the vegetables in your garden.
To track the amount of nitrates, you can purchase a special device that instantly displays the results on the display.
