There is a way to make the soil fertile without tons of manure, expensive fertilizers and hours of backbreaking labor. The solution is underfoot - green manure.
These life-saving plants will turn poor soil into a nutritious “pie” in a short period of time, suppress weeds and even drive away pests.
But there are nuances here: choose the wrong crop or sowing time - and instead of benefit you will get a headache.
Green manure is not just a “green fertilizer.” It works as a natural healer: the roots loosen the soil, the leaves protect against erosion, and after mowing, enrich the soil with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
But the main thing is that they need to be sown on time. For example, mustard, which is so popular with gardeners, can become a breeding ground for cruciferous flea beetles if sown late (in May). And oats sown in cold soil simply won't sprout.
In spring, cold-resistant green manures are ideal: mustard, phacelia, oats, vetch, rape. They are sown as soon as the snow melts and the soil warms up to 3-5 degrees Celsius.
For example, mustard sprouts in 4–5 days even at +2 degrees Celsius.
But don't bury it in the ground right away! Let the plants gain green mass and only then mow it down, leaving it on the surface as mulch or digging it into the top layer of soil.
Digging too deep will destroy all the benefits - the roots must remain in the soil so that, as they decompose, they create channels for air and water.
The mistake many make is to sow green manure as a continuous carpet. But if you are preparing a bed for a specific crop, consider compatibility.
For example, mustard is a bad predecessor for cabbage, radish or horseradish (they have common pests). But before tomatoes or potatoes it is ideal - it scares away wireworms.
Phacelia is universal: it can be sown before any vegetables, and it also blooms beautifully, attracting bees.
The timing of mowing is another key point. Wait until the green manure starts to form buds, but do not let it bloom.
At this point, the greens contain the maximum amount of nutrients, and the stems have not yet become coarse. Cut with a flat cutter or scythe, leaving the roots in the ground. After 2-3 weeks, you can plant the main crop.
But if time is running out, sow directly into the green manure! For example, zucchini or pumpkins grow well among phacelia: while they are small, the green manure will protect them from the wind and sun, and then you mow them down and they will become mulch.
And the last life hack: do not throw away the mown greens. Put them in compost, make liquid fertilizer (soak in water for 10 days) or simply spread between the rows.
Even a small handful of such organic matter works better than store-bought biostimulants.
