Siderite plants are plants that contain minerals, and they are also called “green manure”. Green manure plants are an excellent substitute for mineral fertilizers. So, what are the benefits of green manure plants? It has long been known that soil fertility is provided by worms and various microorganisms that live in the ground. How? Worms and other microorganisms eat organic matter (green manure plants), and their feces are a mineral-organic fertilizer for our vegetable crops. Thus, Siderite that are specially sown to feed the worms and maintain soil fertility.
Siderite plants perform the following functions:
- thanks to the developed root system loosen the soil;
- their long roots extract natural mineral elements from deep soil layers;
- useful mulch that inhibits weed growth;
- food for worms and microorganisms;
- restore soils that have been eroded;
- protect the soil from overheating in summer and overcooling in winter, as well as from the destruction and weathering of the fertile layer;
- protect young seedlings of cultivated plants from the hot sun;
- clean the soil from some diseases and pests;
- contain organic nutrients in the upper soil layers.
What Siderite to sow?
When sowing green manure plants, crop rotation should also be taken into account: if you sow mustard as green manure and plant cabbage after it, do not expect a good harvest, because these plants are from the same family.
The cruciferous family includes:
- mustard
- winter and spring rape
- oil radish
- wild turnip.
After these greens to plant (cruciferous) salads and cabbage can not be.
These siderite enrich the soil with phosphorus and sulfur, and these plants are well health, structure and loosen the soil.
The legume family includes:
- peas (field and sowing)
- alfalfa
- fodder beans
- clover
- lupines (blue, yellow, white).
These Siderite enrich the soil with nitrogen, structure the soil, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria live on their roots. These plants completely replace nitrate.
WARNING! When using clover and alfalfa, keep in mind that they grow very quickly and entangle everything in their roots. Alfalfa and clover are perennials, and simple pruning is not an obstacle to their further growth.
The family of cereals includes:
- oat
- rye
- wheat
- sorghum.
These green plants increase the amount of potassium in the soil, well suppress weeds, as well as structure and loosen the soil.
Phacelia is a universal, completely harmless green manure. It can be planted in front of any crop. Phacelia well protects seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbage. Seedlings of these crops can be planted on a bed between the young phacelia.
It is very effective to use mixtures of different crops, namely legumes and cereals.
When to sow greens?
You can sow green manure in spring, summer and autumn.
Spring. Green manures are sown in the spring not only to improve fertility, but also to provide good conditions for seedlings.
It is necessary to sow green manure so that they have time to grow up before planting seedlings in the garden. Plant the seedlings in rows with growing greens, they (greens) will provide protection from the scorching sun and from the night cold. When the greens begin to appear buds, prune them with a hoe, leave all the cut plants in the garden as mulch.
Which greens are best sown in spring?
- phacelia (from sowing to cutting 40-50 days);
- rapeseed (can be sown in late March, 30 -45 days can be cut);
- mustard (from sowing to cutting 30-45 days);
- mustard (from sowing to cutting 50-60 days).
Summer. You can also sow green manure in summer, as well as in spring. But another important season for sowing greens is autumn.
Autumn. As soon as you harvest from the garden, sow green manure on the same day. It can be phacelia, mustard, rye.
In the spring, prune those greens that overwinter with a hoe or cultivator and, if necessary, water with a solution of effective microorganisms to obtain a faster fertile layer.
Effective microorganisms are beneficial bacteria, yeast and fungi that are involved in the processing of plant residues.
The simplest to prepare is the infusion of nettles and weeds. It is kept in the shade for 7 days. Per 1 liter of infusion add 10 liters of water and water the greens. This infusion can nourish almost all garden and horticultural crops. It is not recommended to water only the beds with garlic and onions – very quickly the feather will turn yellow.
Summer. You can also sow green manure in summer, as well as in spring. But another important season for sowing greens is autumn.
Autumn. As soon as you harvest from the garden, sow green manure on the same day. It can be phacelia, mustard, rye.
In the spring, prune those greens that overwinter with a hoe or cultivator and, if necessary, water with a solution of effective microorganisms to obtain a faster fertile layer.
Effective microorganisms are beneficial bacteria, yeast and fungi that are involved in the processing of plant residues.
The simplest to prepare is the infusion of nettles and weeds. It is kept in the shade for 7 days. Per 1 liter of infusion add 10 liters of water and water the greens. This infusion can nourish almost all garden and horticultural crops. It is not recommended to water only the beds with garlic and onions – very quickly the feather will turn yellow.
When to cut green plants (Siderite)
To get the most out of green manure plants, you need to know how and when to cut them.
Remember!
It is impossible to dig up the beds where green manure plants grew, because you are violating the structure of the soil, which was so carefully created by natural helpers. Digging destroys soil fertility and kills beneficial microorganisms. It is enough to prune green manure plants with a hoe or cultivator so that they act as mineral fertilizers.
DO NOT DIG !!!
Importantly! For green plants to be a mineral fertilizer, you need to consider the following:
- When decomposing greens (and this is possible under the condition of soil moisture), humus (fertile layer of soil) is formed. If the weather is dry, you will have to water the bed from time to time with an infusion of effective microorganisms for better and faster formation of humus.
- Green manure should be cut in the budding phase or, at most, in the early to mid-flowering phase. Why? To rot the coarse stems, nutrients from the soil will be used, and when the seeds ripen, the green plants will turn into weeds.