Like any other resource on the planet, soil depletes over time. To prevent the loss of soil fertility in their plots, gardeners resort to various tricks - they make organic fertilizers, introduce innovative plowing methods and learn the basics of competent soil cultivation. The last event should be given Special attention, because the timely use of green manure allows you to achieve optimal conditions for growing common crops.
Sideration is the sowing of a certain category of plants into the ground, the seedlings of which are later dug up and left to be embedded in the soil. The positive aspects of using green manure can be represented by the following list:
- control over the growth of weeds on the site;
- enrichment of land with nitrogen;
- the possibility of improving water permeability and aeration of the soil;
- protection of soil in the area from blowing and erosion during bad weather;
- an increase in the microbial activity of the soil;
- obstacle to the formation of erosion;
- achieving an optimal soil structure.
It will be useful for novice gardeners to read the article. Can be used as green manure various plants that form good root canals in the soil and have a juicy, dense tops. For example, white mustard as a siderat has an excellent reputation among gardeners. This plant helps to reduce soil alkalinity and maximize comfortable conditions for growing vegetables and fruits in the garden. In addition, white mustard as a green manure in the fall kills fungi and protects crops from pests and diseases. How to properly sow mustard on green manure will be discussed in this review. Also, the article will disclose information about when to dig up green manure and how to determine the rate of mustard seeds per one hundred square meters of land.
Beginning summer residents and seasoned vegetable growers are well aware of white mustard as a siderat when sowing this plant in autumn, not everyone knows, because in the specialized literature on agriculture various recommendations... In most cases, agronomists, who in their publications give advice on when to sow white mustard as a siderat, agree on the timing of planting this crop. They consider the autumn period to be the optimal time for planting this crop.
The exact timing of sowing seeds depends on the type of crops growing on the site.
For example, after potatoes, white mustard is planted as a siderat in the fall in early September. If the site grew early varieties vegetables, then you can embed mustard seeds in the soil immediately after summer gathering harvest - at the end of July, or at the beginning of August. By taking just a few hours to sow mustard seeds in the fall, the grower will be able to return to the plot in the spring and make sure that the soil is sufficiently fertilized and structured.
Studying the topic of how to sow white mustard for green manure, some summer residents find information on the account of planting seeds in spring. This option also deserves separate consideration. Spring planting gives a good result, and summer residents who did not manage to plant mustard seeds in the fall will be able to forget about the hassle of fertilizing the land if they take time in March to embed green manure in the soil.
Thus, there are different dates for sowing green mustard green manure at their summer cottage. In particular, this culture can be planted in the ground, both in autumn and in spring time. By planting siderates from weeds in the fall and introducing mustard seeds into the soil in the spring to improve soil fertility, gardeners will be able to achieve excellent yields and High Quality vegetables and fruits.
In the specialized literature, it is described in detail how to use white mustard as a green manure in the fall, and what to do in order for the spring crops of this crop to give the expected result, so gardeners should study books on agriculture to gain deeper knowledge in this area. You can also find out how and what green manures are best planted in the fall.
Features of using white mustard for sideration
Gardeners just need to throw a few handfuls of white mustard into the ground in order to see the result of their work next season. This green manure very quickly affects the quality of the soil and its composition. So, undersized white mustard greens can inhibit the growth of weeds and retain moisture in the ground. By improving the aeration and water permeability of the soil, the fertile layer receives an optimal dose of nutrients. Mustard roots improve the mechanical structure of the soil, so in the future it will be easier to weed and cultivate the land using specialized agricultural equipment.
The advantages of white mustard over other green manure can be summarized as follows:
- drought resistance of the crop;
- the possibility of growing green manure in most regions of central Russia;
- the compatibility of green manure with various types of soil (mustard will give excellent shoots both on black soil and on heavy clay soils);
- high seed tolerance to low temperatures.
Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the high cost of seeds and the possibility of affecting young seedlings during prolonged spring frosts. Besides finding out the positive and negative aspects different types green manure crops, many summer residents are looking for an answer to the question of when to dig up green manures - in the fall or spring for the best result. This issue will be covered in the next section.
Features of calculating the rate of seeds and digging of green manure
Each plot differs in size and area of cultivated land. Therefore, the number of green manures per one hundred square meters is calculated by gardeners on an individual basis.
On average, for one hundred square meters of land, it is necessary to prepare about two hundred grams of white mustard seeds.
This rate can be decreased or increased depending on the degree of depletion of the soil, its structure and type. After the gardener determines the optimal rate of green manure for one hundred square meters of his plot, he will ask one more important question - is it necessary to dig up the ground after the green manure, or prefer no-till farming to digging? 
You can answer the question of when to dig up green manure after reading the recommendations of leading agronomists. So, most experts advise you to simply use a rake and level the mustard tops on the ground within two months after planting. In this case, the siderat will simply settle in the soil and soon rot.
If the gardener decided to use a shovel to better structure the soil, then he is interested in the question - when to dig up white mustard like a siderat for optimal results. The answer to the question of when to harvest white mustard as a green manure depends on the timing of planting the seeds. As a rule, experts advise to wait for the flowering of the culture, which occurs within 30-40 days after planting the seeds, and only then start digging.
Green manure planting technology
Each summer resident will be able to independently plant mustard seeds on the site - this green manure does not require special care and does not provide for compliance with any complex land cultivation procedures. Sowing is done by hand, and planting seeds in the ground should be done with a rake. With the simplest garden tools and a few hours of free time, gardeners will be able to independently master the cultivation of "green fertilizers" on their plots.
To achieve optimal shoots, it is recommended to follow some rules:
- planting depth should be two to three centimeters;
- fresh crops should be covered for three to four days plastic wrap to get fast shoots;
- irrigation of crops must be carried out using a sparing method of "sprinkling".
As you can see, the agricultural technology of white mustard green manure is simple and affordable, therefore, the cultivation of this crop is within the power of vegetable growers with any skill level.
Compatibility of white mustard with various horticultural crops
From this review, gardeners were able to glean knowledge on how to use mustard as a green manure in organic farming. However, they should not miss an important point, namely, the compatibility of this green manure with other cultures. To understand this issue, it is necessary to study the properties of "friendly" and "hostile" neighbors for sprouts of white mustard.
You should not use this green manure to fertilize the soil on which the following crops grew:
- radish;
- rape;
- radish;
- other cruciferous plants.
These "neighbors" are undesirable for seedlings of white mustard, since their joint cultivation in the same area will lead to the accumulation of pests in the soil (cruciferous plants and white mustard have a common spectrum of diseases). When sowing white mustard after harvesting crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, etc., the summer resident, on the contrary, will be able to prevent the spread of pests on the site and improve the quality of the soil. More information on which green manures to sow for which crops to achieve maximum yields can be found.
Siderat compatibility with various vegetable crops
Sideration of a summer cottage is one of the cornerstones of modern organic farming... As evidence of this thesis, we can cite a mass positive sides, which gives the use of green mustard green manure, for example, guarantees the achievement of an optimal soil composition, free from artificial fertilizers with an aggressive composition. It contributes to the saturation of the earth with humus and allows summer residents to grow an amazingly tasty and healthy crop. Self-cultivation of green manure, which is also called "green fertilizers", will allow gardeners to extract maximum resources from the garden and maintain an ecological balance on the planet.
Astrakhan tomatoes ripen remarkably lying on the ground, but this experience should not be repeated in the Moscow region. Our tomatoes need support, support, a garter. My neighbors use all kinds of pegs, garters, loops, pre-made plant supports, and mesh fences. Each method of fixing a plant in an upright position has its own advantages and “ side effects". I'll tell you how I place tomato bushes on trellises, and what comes of it.
Flies are a sign of unsanitary conditions and carriers of infectious diseases that are dangerous for both humans and animals. People are constantly looking for ways to get rid of nasty insects. In this article we will tell you about the Zlobny TED brand, which specializes in fly protection and knows a lot about them. The manufacturer has developed a specialized line of preparations for getting rid of flying insects anywhere quickly, safely and at no extra cost.
Summer months are the time of blooming of hydrangeas. This beautiful deciduous shrub smells luxuriously with flowers from June to September. Large inflorescences florists willingly use for wedding decors and bouquets. To admire the beauty flowering bush hydrangeas in your garden, it is worth taking care of the proper conditions for it. Unfortunately, some hydrangeas do not bloom from year to year, despite the care and efforts of gardeners. Why this happens, we will tell in the article.
Every summer resident knows that plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for full development. These are the three main macronutrients, the deficiency of which significantly affects appearance and the harvest of plants, and in advanced cases can lead to their death. But at the same time, not everyone understands the importance of other macro- and micronutrients for plant health. And they are important not only by themselves, but also for the effective assimilation of the same nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Garden strawberry, or strawberry, as we used to call it, is one of the earliest fragrant berries that summer gives us generously. How happy we are at this harvest! In order for the “berry boom” to repeat itself every year, we need to take care of the berry bushes in the summer (after the end of fruiting). The laying of flower buds, from which ovaries will form in spring and berries in summer, begins approximately 30 days after the end of fruiting.
Spicy pickled watermelon is a savory snack for fatty meat. Watermelons and watermelon peels have been pickled since time immemorial, but this process is laborious and time-consuming. According to my recipe, just cook a pickled watermelon in 10 minutes, and by the evening a spicy snack will be ready. Stored watermelon marinated with spices and chili in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure to keep the jar in the refrigerator, not only for the sake of safety - chilled this appetizer will just lick your fingers!
Among the variety of species and hybrids of philodendrons, there are many plants, both gigantic and compact. But not a single species competes in simplicity with the main modest - the blushing philodendron. True, his modesty does not apply to the appearance of the plant. Reddening stems and cuttings, huge leaves, long shoots that form, although very large, but also a strikingly graceful silhouette, look very elegant. The blushing philodendron requires only one thing - at least minimal maintenance.
Thick chickpea soup with vegetables and eggs is a simple recipe for a hearty first course based on oriental cuisine. Similar thick soups are prepared in India, Morocco, countries South-East Asia... The spices and seasonings set the tone - garlic, chili, ginger and a bouquet of spices, which can be collected to your liking. It is better to fry vegetables and spices in ghee (ghee) or mix olive and butter, it is certainly not the same, but it tastes like it.
Plum - well, who doesn't know her ?! She is loved by many gardeners. And all because it has impressive list varieties, surprises excellent harvests, pleases with its diversity in terms of ripening and huge choice the color, shape and taste of the fruit. Yes, somewhere she feels better, somewhere worse, but almost no summer resident refuses the pleasure of growing it on her site. Today it can be found not only in the south, in middle lane, but also in the Urals, in Siberia.
Many decorative and fruit crops, except for drought-resistant, suffer from scorching sun, and conifers in the winter-spring period - from the sun's rays, enhanced by the reflection from the snow. In this article, we will talk about unique drug to protect plants from sunburn and droughts - Sanshet Agrosuccess. The problem is relevant for most regions of Russia. In February and early March, the sun's rays become more active, and the plants are not yet ready for new conditions.
"Each vegetable has its own time", and each plant has its own optimal time for planting. Anyone who has come across planting is well aware that the hot season for planting plants is spring and autumn. This is due to several factors: in the spring the plants have not yet started to grow rapidly, there is no sweltering heat and precipitation often falls. However, no matter how hard we try, circumstances often develop in such a way that planting has to be carried out at the very height of summer.
Chile con carne translated from Spanish- chili with meat. It is a Texan and Mexican dish, the main ingredients of which are chili peppers and ground beef. In addition to the main products, there are onions, carrots, tomatoes, beans. This recipe makes chili and red lentils delicious! The dish is fiery, scorching, very satisfying and awesomely tasty! You can cook a large saucepan, put it in containers and freeze - there will be a delicious dinner for a whole week.
Cucumber is one of the most beloved garden crops of our summer residents. However, not all and not always gardeners manage to get really good harvest... And although the cultivation of cucumbers requires regular attention and care, there is a little secret that will significantly increase their yield. It is about pinching cucumbers. For what, how and when to pinch cucumbers, we will tell in the article. An important point The agricultural technique of cucumbers is their formation, or type of growth.
Now every gardener has the opportunity to grow completely organic, healthy fruits and vegetables in their own garden. Microbiological fertilizer Atlant will help in this. It contains bacteria-helpers that settle in the zone of the root system and begin to work for the benefit of the plant, allowing it to actively grow, stay healthy and give high yields... Typically, many microorganisms coexist around the root system of plants.
Summer is associated with beautiful flowers. Both in the garden and in the rooms, you want to admire the luxurious inflorescences and touching flowers. And for this it is not at all necessary to use cut bouquets. In the assortment of the best indoor plants quite a few flowering species... In summer, when they receive the brightest lighting and optimal daylight hours, they are able to outshine any bouquet. Short-lived or just annual crops look like living bouquets.
Mustard seeds are in great demand in garden centers - farmers are actively interested in them, both in spring and autumn. However, farmers do not purchase prepackaged grains to obtain mustard powder, but to make mulch from mustard sprouts. The fact is that this plant is ideal as a green manure. It has a short growing season, grows quickly, produces large volumes of green mass and valuable residual fiber, suitable for mulching soils that are deficient in organic matter.
Competent plowing of mustard as green manure in autumn and spring helps to improve the structure of the soil and its moisture permeability. But in order for the green manure to meet the expectations of the farmer, it is necessary to know when to sow and dig up mustard green manure in a specific household plot.
Self-cultivation of mustard as a siderat begins with the preparation of the seeds. Therefore, before looking for an answer to the question - when to plant mustard as a siderat (in autumn, spring or summer), the farmer must solve another problem, namely, buy or prepare it on his own required amount grains for sowing their lands. In this case, the area of the field and the seeding rate of mustard for green manure, set individually, should be taken into account. Traditionally, the rate is from seven to ten kilograms per hectare of land, but it can vary depending on the time of planting the seeds, the state of the fertile soil layer on the land, weather conditions and other external factors.
For example, in the warmer months, the sowing rate can be slightly adjusted downward and use about six kilograms of grain per hectare of land. And if the farmer is interested in cultivation in the winter, then on the contrary, the number of seeds per hectare should be increased, since the germination of mustard in the cold season worsens.
Before sowing mustard on green manure, the farmer needs to familiarize himself with the technology of embedding seeds. So, the harvested seeds good quality scattered across the field by hand, and then deepened into the ground a couple of centimeters using a hoe or rake. After the mustard seeds are reliably covered with a layer of soil from birds and rainstorms, the ground is irrigated with water and tamped a little. The first green shoots will appear on the land within a week from the moment the seeds are planted.
Spring and autumn sowing of mustard as a siderat is not particularly difficult. This plant is compatible with many types of soils, however, owners of areas with acidified soils should be careful when growing mustard, because the plant is not able to neutralize high ph. It is also worthwhile to understand in advance when to sow mustard as a siderat in autumn and spring. This culture is unpretentious and hardy - it quickly gives powerful shoots, so it can be embedded in the ground from March to September. The flexible timing of sowing mustard green manure gives the farmer a certain amount of freedom of choice, and he can decide for himself when to plant seeds in the soil.
The nature of the impact on the soil
Having figured out when to sow mustard green manure on the site, the farmer may become interested in the nature of the effect of this green fertilizer on the soil. It will be covered in the current section. To begin with, mustard belongs to cruciferous plants, which, with their powerful, branched roots, are able to loosen the soil and make the need to use special equipment for plowing fields a thing of the past. In addition, by having a clear understanding of when to plant mustard as a siderat and what to do with its shoots, the farmer will make other improvements.
Among them: 
- protection of soil from erosion;
- prevention of leaching of organic and mineral substances from the soil;
- release of phosphates;
- protection of land from pathogens and weeds.
Soil remediation is another important area of organic farming. Mustard will also help to carry it out. It effectively inhibits the growth of colonies of pathogenic bacteria in the soil and prevents the reproduction of nematodes and wireworms in the area. Thus, by wisely using mustard in the garden, the farmer will be able to achieve a complex effect on the soil with minimal investment means and labor.
Making mulch from mustard shoots
If a summer resident, cultivating the land according to the principles of organic farming, is interested in mustard as a green manure, when and how to harvest this plant after a sufficient amount of vegetative mass has been gained, this is a key question to be answered. To begin with, the farmer must decide which way to go - choose the digging of green manure or give preference to no-till farming. This topic was discussed in the article.
If the summer resident chose the first option, then he is interested in the question - when to dig up mustard green manure to get the best results. Agronomists advise planning digging between 6 and 8 weeks after the first shoots appear in the field. During this period, the plant will gain the necessary strength and become suitable for embedding in the ground using a cultivator, plow or ordinary shovel. In the process of digging, it is not worthwhile to deeply bury the shoots in the ground - it is enough to close them up by 10-15 centimeters and leave them in the ground for decay. But since the concept of using arable land in agriculture there are many opponents, all more gardeners prefers the second option and is interested in the question of when to mow mustard like green manure within the framework of no-till farming.
Experts advise taking into account the flowering period of the culture when choosing the date for cutting the shoots.
It falls on the 50-60th day from the moment of sowing the seeds, so it is best to grind the vegetative mass before this time. Thus, when deciding when to cut mustard green manure in his field, the farmer must prevent flowering and uncontrolled self-seeding.
It is important not only to correctly answer the question of when to mow mustard like green manure, but also to learn how to mulch it correctly. When the time is right for cutting the greens and the mulch chopper has been purchased, the farmer can get to work. He will first need to mow the shoots, the height of which is already about 35-40 centimeters, grind them with special device and spread evenly on the field. The roots of the plant should be left in their original form underground. After several weeks, the stems and root mass of the mustard will rot and give up their nutrients soil. In such an unpretentious way, the farmer will saturate the fertile soil layer and will not violate the integrity of its microflora.
If the farmer is determined to use green manure - when to sow and when to bury the mustard - this is not the only question to which he has to find an answer. It is also important to know other nuances - the resistance of the crop to cold, demanding watering, compatibility with common garden crops, etc. Knowledge of these nuances will help to better plan crop rotation in the field and achieve excellent results in the process of green manure.
As mentioned earlier, mustard is unpretentious and can grow on almost any type of soil. This crop can tolerate drought, but it is capricious in relation to stagnant water in the soil, so it is important for the farmer not to overdo it with the frequency and abundance of watering. Concerning temperature conditions, then mustard seeds can sprout from the soil when the air warms up to 4 degrees Celsius.
This crop is well adapted to cold climates, so it can be grown without any problems in most regions of Russia.
But for optimal results, the answer to the question of when to plant mustard as a siderat, farmers from different parts of the country should look for individually. To plan crop rotation in the field, you need to know when you can plant mustard as a siderat, and also do not forget about the compatibility of this crop with other plants.
So, mustard will become a good predecessor in the beds intended for growing the following vegetables:
- peas;
- zucchini;
- potato;
- carrot;
- cucumber;
- garlic;
- beet;
- beans;
- pumpkin.
But if the farmer decided to grow turnips, radishes, cabbage or daikon in the beds, and now he is looking for an answer to the question - when can you sow mustard as a green manure for these crops, then he should be careful. The fact is that cruciferous green manures are incompatible with the listed crops and their use as a predecessor in the garden can leave the farmer without a crop. You can read about which green manure crops are best used for which crops.
A farmer needs many answers if he decides to use cruciferous siderates in the garden - when to plant mustard in the fall before winter, what to do with its seedlings, how to choose the time for embedding live mulch in the ground, etc. Armed with the recommendations given in this review, the gardener will be able to independently solve all these problems and master the basic techniques of soil greening. In the future, they will help the summer resident maintain a fertile soil layer, improve the productivity of crops and maintain the fragile ecological balance of the land. In addition, the gardener will receive tangible economic benefits - he will be able to abandon labor-intensive and costly land cultivation methods and completely switch to affordable and efficient organic farming.
In the past few years, more and more gardeners are planting on their summer cottages green fertilizers. These are plants that are specially grown to saturate the soil with useful substances and trace elements. Very often mustard is used for this purpose. It is characterized by rapid growth and is suitable for fertilizing the vegetable garden almost all year round.
Mustard is an annual herbaceous crop of the cruciferous family. The height of the green mass reaches 80 centimeters. The plant has root system rod type. The central root is strong and long. It penetrates the ground to a depth of two meters. Lateral roots small, poorly developed. Leaves are medium in size. Coarse hairs are observed on both surfaces. The flowers are yellowish, united in inflorescences. Leguminous fruits. Each of them contains 5-6 seeds.
Mustard tolerates cold well, even when the temperature drops below 0, its seedlings do not freeze. The growing season is 45-50 days.
What is the use of mustard
This green crop contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as organic matter. Young plants especially need these microelements, as they accelerate their growth.
Mustard greens left for the winter will protect the soil from wind and frost. This plant is a good honey plant. It will attract bees to the summer cottage.
Mustard is planted as fertilizer for various garden crops except for cabbage, radish and radish as they belong to the same family. Also, this plant can be planted in rows near vegetables and fruit trees... It will accelerate their growth, increase yields and protect against pests.
How to grow mustard
Mustard grows well on fertile, moist soils. She does not like swampy and acidic soils. Weather conditions have practically no effect on the growth of green mass. Seeds sprout even if the air temperature is +2 degrees. At the same time, the seeds in the soil can withstand up to -5 degrees.
The seeds of this fertilizer are small, round in shape. Very often the plant is sown in rows, the distance between which should be about 15 centimeters. The culture is characterized by large bushes that need enough space to good growth... The seeds are plowed into the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 centimeters. With a deeper embedment, they will germinate for a long time. Mustard germinates 3-4 days after sowing.
Also, mustard can be sown over the entire surface of the soil. To distribute it more evenly, the seeds are mixed with sand. A quarter of a glass of seeds is added to a glass of sand. Consumption rate - 20-25 grams of the mixture per square meter plot.
Planting mustard in spring
As a fertilizer, mustard is planted during the period when night frosts are no longer observed. Usually it is at least the beginning of April. At this time, the air temperature during the day will be 8-10 degrees. This is sufficient for the rapid growth of green mass. The growing season of this crop is approximately one and a half months. Therefore, after this time, you need to mow and plow the mustard into the ground. A week after digging the soil, you can plant the main garden crops.
Another option is to plant the plants between the growing green mass of mustard. To do this, they cut off the greens in places and make holes in which they plant main culture... A week later, the green mass is mowed and laid out on the soil surface, between the plants. It will act as a mulch, protecting the soil from drying out and inhibiting the growth of weeds.
Planting in autumn
In autumn, this green fertilizer is planted after harvest, when there is still at least a month before the onset of cold weather. Very often, mustard is used to green the soil after potatoes or cereals. Before sowing the seeds, the soil is loosened. Consumption rate - 300-400 grams per one hundred square meters. To sow the crop as evenly as possible, the seeds are mixed with sand. For 200 grams of sand, 50 grams of mustard is sizzled.
After 20-25 days, when the height of the greenery is 15-20 centimeters, it can be mowed and plowed into the soil. You can also leave the plant for the winter. Then it will trap snow and protect the ground from frost.
Sowing in late fall is another option. In this case, the seeds will remain dormant until spring. As soon as the frosts begin to subside, they will sprout. it good way fertilizing the soil before planting early crops.
Summer planting
In summer, this plant is grown on soils, which were given a rest and do not plan to plant anything else this year. Since it takes 40-50 days from planting seeds to maturity of mustard, it can be grown three times per season.
For the first time, the culture is sown at the end of May or at the beginning of June. For continuous sowing, 300-400 g of seeds will be needed per one hundred square meters of the plot. To make it easier to sow, they are pre-mixed with sand. After a month and a half, the green mass is mowed or cut with a flat cutter and plowed into the soil. It is important to do this for the appearance of flowers, since during flowering, the stems sharply coarse, respectively, they will decompose for a long time.
After 10-14 days, mustard seeds are sown a second time. This method of soil cultivation helps to fertilize it, destroy pests and weeds. In addition, in summer time mustard can be sown as a green manure before planting seedlings of late vegetable crops.
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There are many ways to improve fertility, but, in my opinion, one of the most effective is to sow the area with white mustard. I constantly use this method, it perfectly enriches the soil, makes it loose, breathable, and this, in turn, increases the yield several times. How to sow green manure correctly, why white mustard is preferable to other plants - helpers, this will be discussed in this article.
Mustard has a lot of advantages compared to other types of green manure: this spice plant quickly grows green mass and is able to make the soil rich in vitamins, microelements and other components useful for plants in just a few years.
This crop has many varieties, but it is most often used as a soil enrichment white view... it annual plant belongs to the cruciferous family and is also widely used in the field of cooking and as a folk doctor. Among her relatives can be distinguished the most "close relatives": cabbage, horseradish, radish, turnip.
In one summer, the siderat grows up to a meter in height, and this is the best way possible, affects the fertility, because all this green mass after planting in the ground perfectly feeds the structure of the earth, in addition, white mustard is an excellent honey plant, which undoubtedly has a positive effect on fruiting.
Flowering begins in mid-summer, but it is not necessary to wait for the green manure to bloom, usually gardeners mow bright and healthy greens and use it either as fertilizer or as mulch.
What happens to the soil after planting green manure
Protecting the soil from weeds is far from the last important purpose of the green manure plant. Under reliable protection greenery, the sun does not destroy the structure of the earth, the roots of the plant serve as an excellent natural loosening agent of the soil, and the plant itself enriches the soil with substances irreplaceable for it: nitrogen and phosphorus. During the growth of mustard, insoluble organic substances and vitamins are absorbed from the earth, this processing process is very important for plants, because in the end they get an easily assimilated form of elements.
The spice plant does not allow valuable minerals to be washed out of the soil during heavy rains, it delays them and at the same time prevents the spread of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. For example: if you plant white mustard after potatoes, then subsequent vegetable crops will not suffer from various fungal diseases, they will not be affected by rot.
Pay attention! The roots of white mustard can grow three meters deep into the ground, which means that it is at this distance that the soil is able to receive nutrition. This goes from the very surface to the deepest layers. Even when the plant is mown, the root sitting in the soil continues to carry out air exchange processes.
White mustard repels harmful insects and protects against diseases, so growing it next to vegetable crops becomes quite profitable. There are known examples of getting rid of a wireworm on a site in just 2-3 years of planting white mustard. This plant is not welcomed by the pest, and it leaves this site forever.
Can white mustard be planted in the spring before tomatoes? Of course, but only if radish, cabbage or any other representatives of this family did not grow in the garden before.
Agrotechnical features
This plant is able to grow on any soil, however, on sandy soil, mustard grows worse, so for these areas it is better to choose a different type of green manure.
Cold resistance is good, the sprouts are able to withstand temperatures up to - 7 degrees, so many gardeners plant the plant itself in early spring, in order to get a full mass of greens by June. In addition, before planting other crops, the soil will have time to receive a dose of nutrition and enrich it with oxygen.
Planting in spring
For the safe cultivation of white mustard on the site, it is not at all necessary to dig it up. To plant seeds in the ground, you can only slightly loosen the ground, add seeds, and then level the soil with a rake, of course, if the size of the site allows it.
The planting material is rather shallow, so deep planting is not required. The seeds are scattered thickly over the surface and then harrowed. If planting in rows is necessary, the seeds are planted in rows with a distance of at least 15 cm between them.
Approximately 45 days pass from the time of planting to the moment of flowering, but you should not wait until this period, the mustard is mowed 14 days before the ejection of the peduncles and dug up with the ground. After that, you can plant vegetables.
The only negative aspect of sowing is that birds often peck seeds from the soil, therefore, before seedlings appear, it is necessary to cover the ridge with non-woven material. And yet, in the beds where cruciferous plants used to grow, better mustard do not plant, as diseases are inherited. Other types of green manure are suitable here: for example, buckwheat, alfalfa, phacelia, rye or oats.
Watering the culture is not required, since the long root is able to punch its way to moisture on its own. In general, this plant is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and a quick set of green mass under any unfavorable conditions, so all farmers, without exception, like to plant it, from inexperienced gardeners to experienced gardeners.
Many people use the plant throughout the summer, and also commit winter sowing... Then, in early spring, you can get the first shoots. The seeds winter well and germinate as soon as the snow melts. In any case, it is reliable and inexpensive remedy will help in enriching the soil, supplying it with all the necessary substances, vitamins and microelements. White mustard is the simplest fertility remedy that can be used almost all year round.