It’s better to sow a vegetable garden when the soil has rested. If you want to grow excellent potatoes, sow your garden with mustard
Endless fight against weeds on summer cottage and in the garden it is known to everyone. Weeds take root well and grow in any conditions. They can be found on the most unsuitable soils for life, in cultivated flower beds and vegetable gardens, and even dense asphalt is no barrier to them. Getting rid of these unpleasant neighbors once and for all is the dream of every summer resident. So how do you do this?
One of effective ways weed control is the cultivation of crops that suppress the activity of weeds and prevent their spread. So what should you plant in your garden to prevent weeds?
Weed control methods
Weeds can be controlled using preventative methods, the main task of which is to prevent weeds from entering the area and prevent their spread. These methods are aimed at identifying and destroying the weed, as well as preventive measures to fight him.
Extermination methods are aimed at destroying weeds:
- Mechanically.
- Using chemicals.
- Through biological intervention.
One of the most available methods To combat the intensive growth of weeds is to mow the weeds early before they bloom. This prevents seed formation. Weeds spread throughout the area much more slowly.
The control method by sowing dominant grasses is aimed at suppressing the development of weeds and improving general condition soil. Such herbs are usually called green manure. These plants are obligatory participants in the crop rotation of any land plot.
Green manure
Green manure is a green fertilizer and after a short period of growth they are mowed to fill compost pits and mulch the soil. Before sowing a weed-free area with this or that grass, you need to remember their main tasks:
- suppression of weeds and preventing their spread throughout the entire dacha area;
- reduction of high soil acidity;
- loosening the soil structure and enriching it with oxygen;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- prevention of infections and diseases.
They can be sown almost all season. However, they are not suitable as predecessors for related plants. When using green manure, additional application mineral fertilizers not required in the soil. So what kind of grass should you plant to prevent weeds from growing?
Any type of green fertilizer is suitable annual plant with a strong root system. Their branched structure can easily break through compacted soil, making it looser and more fertile. Before planting the main plants, green manure is plowed into the ground. The dry top part is not mowed or removed.
Mulching with green manure
Green manure does not have to be plowed into the soil. Spread in a small layer on the beds, they are suitable as mulch. Mulching the soil with green manure has many advantages:
Types of green manure
Before you sow the ground against weeds, you must remember that the most common green manures are of legume origin. These are very unpretentious plants in terms of growing conditions. They germinate even at the lowest temperatures and easily tolerate frosts. These include beans, lentils, alfalfa, peas, clover and many others.
How to sow the garden against weeds in the spring in order to get rid of them for a long time? Spring planting of legumes saturates the soil with nitrogen. They are suitable for both weed control and structure improvement. clay soils and wetlands. Legumes have well-developed roots and form a kind of drainage in the ground. Often used for acidified soils and help normalize their acidity level. Therefore, before planting a weed plot, it is necessary to take into account not only the characteristics of the land plot, but also their recommended successors.
White mustard is excellent for controlling bindweed, pea stalk and slugs. Effectively used to prevent late blight. Is good predecessor onions and can significantly increase its yield. Rapeseed does not tolerate acidic soils. It is an excellent leavening agent and enriches the soil with sulfur and phosphorus.
Oilseed radish is not afraid of frost and easily tolerates long-term drought. Excellent for intensive control of wheatgrass. Rye is used as a winter crop. It is mowed for green mass at the end of May. Excellent for wetlands. Effectively used to combat wireworms.
Oats saturate the soil with potassium and are an excellent preventative against root rot. Sweet clover saturates the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus. Is a great assistant to combat wireworms. Helps avoid root rot of plants. Excellent as a pioneer for uncultivated soils.
Sainfoin is suitable for all types of soil. It is better to sow it in areas left fallow. Can be a source of green fertilizer for several years. Peas perfectly suppress weeds not only with their powerful root system, but also with their dense green mass. Excellent for growing on marshy soils and helps dry them out.
Buckwheat saturates the soil with potassium and phosphorus. Copes well with wheatgrass and other weeds. Suitable for all types of soil and easily tolerates drought. It is not recommended to use as a precursor for sorrel and spinach.
Calendula effectively improves soil properties and is an excellent precursor for tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. Protects them from late blight. It is an effective remedy in the fight against wireworms, caterpillars and mites.
Universal weed control product
Every gardener thinks about how to sow a plot to prevent weeds from growing. Excellent tool from the spread of weeds - sowing a mixture of herbs. This mixture contains equal proportions of oilseed radish, white mustard and rapeseed. Of course, these plants can be used individually, but sowing together gives nuclear reaction- perfectly increases soil fertility and destroys weeds in the bud.
The entire plot of land is sown with a mixture of these herbs at the rate of 200 g of seeds per hundred square meters. If in the future you plan to mow the green mass for animal feed, you can sow the area much denser. Sowing can be done at any time. Perfect for this as early spring, and warm late autumn. At spring planting green manures are allowed to grow, and a few weeks before planting cultivated plants they are plowed into the soil. Autumn green manure is left in the winter and the entire area is plowed in the spring.
This triple mixture, when released into the soil, perfectly deoxidizes it and acts similarly to lime. The root system of plants goes deep into the soil, when decomposed, it releases inhibitory substances and suppresses the development of weeds.
When sowing, the seeds are scattered throughout the area and buried with a harrow. If the area is small, you can use a regular metal rake instead of a harrow.
To obtain excellent green fertilizer, these crops are mowed, the grass is chopped, and the entire plot of land is well plowed. Depending on the region, this way you can get two or three cuttings per season, perfectly fertilize the soil and prepare it for further use.
You can watch the video about common mistakes when sowing green manure:
Green manure for potatoes
Potatoes are usually grown in very large quantities. It is not always possible to change the planting location every year when there is a limited plot of land. So how to sow a garden against weeds and how to prevent their massive spread? Experienced gardeners sow rye or winter vetch in early September.
Also an excellent precursor for increasing potato yields are oats, peas and white mustard. Representatives of the nightshade family should not be used as green fertilizer. Mustard sown before potatoes can significantly increase its yield and help get rid of wireworms.
Conclusion
What and when to sow your garden to prevent weeds from growing, everyone decides for themselves. However, whatever green manure is used at the dacha, it will greatly increase the yield, eliminate the need for mineral fertilizers, improve the soil structure and help in the fight against weeds.
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There are so many ways to kill weeds! One of them is growing plants that suppress the development of weeds and, at the same time, improve the condition of the soil. In this article we will talk about the best way to sow a garden to prevent weeds from growing.
For this purpose, there are plants that are green fertilizers, since they are mowed for compost or mulch when they gain the necessary green mass. But you shouldn’t thoughtlessly sow a plot with green manure; you need to take into account their characteristics.
Such plants are popular among gardeners due to their availability and a number of useful qualities.
- The main thing for us is that they inhibit the growth of weeds.
- Thanks to them, soil acidified by fertilizers restores its quality. The soil is loosened, and this improves its structure.
- The microflora in the soil is activated.
- Green manure has a phytosanitary effect, so dangerous infections are suppressed.
- Using them, you can forget about mineral fertilizers, since they take care of enriching the soil with microelements.
The most common green manures include the following plant families:
- legumes;
- cruciferous;
- cereals.
Legumes
These green manures are the most common and undemanding plants. They are different types. Russia is represented by beans:
Edible beans include:
- peas;
- beans;
- lentils;
- beans.
They tolerate light frosts, and sprout already at +3 degrees C, so they can grow anywhere.
There is also a large number of broad beans:
- alfalfa;
- clover;
- sweet pea;
- acacia.
Important! There is an opinion: sowing a plot of legume green manure three times and digging it up is the same as fertilizing it with manure.
Legumes are planted in early spring. Until frost they will produce green mass. After leguminous plants the soil is saturated with nitrogen, since their root system contains special bacteria that produce nitrogen. Trees also benefit greatly from them (green manure also feeds them with nitrogen).
Benefits of broad beans
It is advisable to sow such plants on marshy and clayey soil. They are wonderful green manures, as they have a number of useful qualities.
- Plants have well-developed roots that drain and structure the soil to great depths.
- Thanks to them, the acidity of the soil decreases, which means the pH is normalized.
- With their help, phosphorus compounds gain easier access to plants.
- They tolerate cold and frost well - up to -8 degrees C.
- Contain a large amount of minerals.
Sweet clover
It is a powerful green manure plant with strong roots located at great depths. It is resistant to frost and drought, while improving the soil structure in salt marshes. Wireworms and some pests are afraid of it. It is planted at the end of summer, leaving it for the winter. By spring the green mass will grow. It is cut before flowering.
Sainfoin
It can be distinguished among green manures by its uniqueness. The plant is very unpretentious. Possessing a strong root that goes to great depths (about 10 meters), it is able to live in poor soils, thanks to which useful substances from the depths come to the surface. In addition, it drains the soil well and successfully tolerates extreme conditions. And he is also an excellent honey plant.
The green mass of this green manure grows in the second year, and for seven years it can serve as a source of green fertilizer. If sainfoin grows on the site, you for a long time you don’t have to worry about what to sow the ground with to prevent weeds.
Peas
This bean green manure helps fight weeds well, as it grows quickly, inhibiting their growth. He likes to be located on neutral soil and loves moisture. Peas should be sown when summer is coming to an end, but nevertheless, before the onset of autumn, the necessary green mass is accumulated.
Vika
With the onset of warm weather, it’s a good idea to sow tomato beds with vetch. This is an annual legume green manure. It quickly collects the necessary green mass and structures the soil. Cut 1.5-2 weeks before planting tomatoes.
Lupine
Abandoned areas are sown with lupine. This green manure takes root well on various lands, improving its quality. Lupine is deservedly considered an excellent predecessor of strawberries.
Alfalfa
A perennial green manure that has a great effect on soil fertility. Its greens are rich in various beneficial substances. The plant needs well-moistened (not to be confused with swampy) soils with a neutral pH. Alfalfa should be mowed when its buds form.
Seradella
In one season, green mass can grow twice. The plant loves moisture and, if there is enough of it, will grow on poor soil. Frost resistant.
Cruciferous
All representatives of this group are unpretentious and resilient. In addition, their secretions from the roots inhibit the action of late blight pathogens and pose a danger to many pests.
White mustard
This is an annual herbaceous plant that resists frost very well. In central Russia it can be sown in early spring.
Mustard has a number of green manure qualities.
Important! Mustard has the same pests as all cruciferous vegetables, so it should not be used after
plant related crops.
Rape
It is frost-resistant and rapidly gains green mass. Within a month, the stems grow up to 30 cm. Its roots extract sulfur and phosphorus compounds from the soil.
Oilseed radish
Of all the cruciferous plants, the most unpretentious plant, which is not afraid of either frost or drought. Powerful root system allows you to adapt to difficult conditions life. Inhibits the development of wheatgrass. It gains a large amount of green mass well, even despite late planting.
Surepka
An annual green manure, it loves moisture very much. Provided there is generous watering, rapeseed quickly gains green mass, even when planted in September.
Cereals
You can qualitatively clear the soil of weeds and fertilize it with the help of cereals. They are excellent green manures.
Cereals include:
- rye;
- oats;
- buckwheat;
- barley.
Rye
Rye is used as a winter crop (after all, it tolerates frost well). Therefore, it is sown at the end of summer, in September or later (it all depends on the climatic conditions of the area). It has a suppressive effect on weeds and pathogenic microflora. Rye crowds out everything, so you shouldn’t place garden plants near it.
Its green mass should be removed at the end of May, before planting vegetables. It is good to sow rye in wetlands so that it displaces water.
Oats
This green manure thrives on acidic soils, and its roots have a positive phytosanitary effect on root rot. The plot is planted with oats at the very beginning of spring (as soon as the frosts end). It is recommended to remove the green mass before flowering begins. Green oat sprouts have a beneficial effect on the human body. After oats, the soil is saturated with potassium, so tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers thrive in this area.
Buckwheat
Same wonderful properties buckwheat has.
Barley
In addition to all the inherent siderates beneficial properties, barley stands out among them for its high drought resistance, due to which it is successfully used in arid regions. In addition, it is able to tolerate frosts - down to -5 degrees, quickly increasing its green mass. In view of this, the area is planted with barley in early spring, and after 40-50 days.
Decorative
When thinking about how to plant a plot so that there are no weeds, do not forget about green manure plants that have decorative properties. These include:
- calendula;
- amaranth;
- phacelia.
Amaranth
The areas freed up after harvesting early vegetables should be planted with amaranth. The green mass should be cut before flowering or before the onset of autumn frosts.
The plant is unpretentious and grows well in acidic and salty soil. Tolerates dry times well. Long (2 m) amaranth roots improve the soil and make it more fertile. The plant resists diseases well and has phytosanitary properties.
Calendula
This plant is simply necessary as green manure for tomatoes, as well as for combined plantings with potatoes and eggplants. Calendula heals the soil. It should be planted at the end of August, and the green mass should be mowed in the fall.
Important! Calendula is also effective in the fight against the Colorado potato beetle.
Phacelia
This is a universal green manure plant.
- She is able to endure without harming herself frankly low temperature(-9 degrees C).
- It develops even on rocky soil, quickly gaining green mass.
- Phacelia is resistant to dry weather.
- Plant a plot with it whenever you want - early spring, summer, autumn.
- The plant has phytosanitary properties that destroy nematodes and other pathogens.
- Phacelia is an excellent predecessor for any garden crops.
- Phacelia and legumes enhance each other's effects.
You now know what to sow the plot with. It remains to talk about where to plant these herbs so that there is no inconvenience to garden crops.
Where to plant
The area that is not intended for garden crops can be planted with Sudanese grass. Its strong roots and powerful stems suppress all growing weeds (perennials too). On those lands where it is planned to grow some agricultural crops, it is better to refuse Sudanese, since it is very difficult to eradicate it even with herbicides.
The problem of depletion of the fertile layer is solved by giving the soil a rest and sowing the garden with green manure. There are several varieties of plants, mostly grasses, each of which has a positive effect on the structure or composition of the soil. Such crops enrich the soil with nutrients. The earth simply needs to be given rest, because the soil is depleted from year to year after growing cultivated plants and subsequently vegetables will not grow well in this place, the harvest will be meager.
Why you can’t sow one crop in one place
When planting a crop of a certain type, those nutrients, which this particular plant “loves”. Some need nitrogen in large quantities, others need magnesium, and others need boron. But most often it is a certain complex, that is, several minerals (for example, phosphorus-potassium-magnesium). Gradually, the earth is depleted one-sidedly: something has dried up, something is available.
Therefore, those who like to sow half the garden with potatoes need to know that repeating this every year in the same place will not work without consequences. Over time, large, smooth potatoes will turn into “peas”, which can be eaten simple explanations. The point is not only in the depletion of the soil, but also in diseases and pests that actively reproduce in this place.
It’s not for nothing that agronomists recommend crop rotation: the same crop cannot be planted in the same place year after year. But this is not enough. Vegetables or berries of the same family suffer from the same diseases and are affected by the same pests. A striking example- cruciferous or cabbage vegetables. If you alternate vegetables, but within your own family: radishes, turnips, cauliflower, white cabbage, then cabbage can get clubroot.
Why are green manures sown?
From school we remember about three-field and fallow land, old farming systems in which the land gains strength. When growing vegetables and fruits every year, the fertile layer is depleted. It is very difficult to restore it artificially. Anyone who thinks that the earth only needs nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other macro- and microelements is mistaken.
Some gardeners are trying to restore fertility in the garden by increasing the application of organic and mineral fertilizers. This solution does not always help get rid of the problem. The fact is that soil is a rather complex organism. Important components are soil breathability, its structure, mineral content, and acidity.
If there is an imbalance in the main processes, then the problem will have to be solved in complex ways. First of all, the soil must rest to restore the lost balance. There are several ways to relax. The most effective and fairly quick way is to sow green manure.
Green manures are plants that are first grown and then incorporated into the soil when digging. They are also called “green manure”.
They enrich the soil with proteins, nitrogen, sugars and other useful microelements. Dead roots attract worms and create channels that are saturated with oxygen.
Plants that are sown to restore the earth
There are many green manure plants. You need to sow those that can solve your problem. The choice is also determined by the availability of culture in a certain area.
Oats
The main advantage of oats as green manure is its availability in almost any region, good germination and strong growth. It suppresses growing weeds in the garden. It is about oats that the Russian proverb says: “Sow it in the dirt and you will become a prince.” In the mud, that is, in the very early spring, when the snow has just melted and the ground is saturated with moisture, this crop is planted not only for good harvest. Oats require constant moisture to germinate.
As soon as the oats have reached a height of 10-20 cm, the area can be dug up, plowing the green mass into the ground. It will enrich the soil with protein, potassium and phosphorus. If the mass is allowed to grow, it will not be possible to dig it up without the help of special equipment. But you can leave the oats until they ripen. In this case, the soil will be provided with rest.
Marigold
These flowers not only decorate the garden, but are also known for their ability to scare away harmful insects. Marigold flowers and leaves have a specific smell that remains in the dried raw materials. If you sow part of the plot with tagetes, you can reduce the use of chemicals.
Phacelia
One of the most popular green manures is phacelia. She is a wonderful honey plant. If planted, it attracts bees. It heals the soil by attracting beneficial insects. Another important advantage of phacelia is the rapid growth of green mass, which serves as fertilizer.
Rye
This is a powerful grass that suppresses even strong weeds. Rye, as green manure, can be winter, for planting in the fall, and spring, for sowing in the spring. This crop enriches the soil with beneficial microflora and attracts insects that destroy pests. Rye can be planted several times a season until the weeds are completely destroyed.
Mustard
One of the favorite crops for gardeners. Mustard sprouts quickly and gains green mass. Its flowers attract bees and other insects. If you plant this green manure after diseased plants, it will improve the soil health. Its ability to suppress scab is known. You should not plant mustard in heavily overgrown areas; it cannot suppress the growth of weeds.
Lupine
Land planted with lupine quickly gets rid of weeds. Its roots penetrate well into the ground, loosen it and suppress the growth of other plants.
This popular legume contains nitrogen, starch and other substances beneficial to the soil. Lupine hardly ever gets sick. If you constantly sow it for several years, the area will have a good rest.
Calendula
Planted in the garden medicinal plant. Experienced gardeners noticed that not only did she not get sick, but she also “heals” the crops that grow next to her. That is why calendula is planted around the perimeter of the beds. This property is also used when growing it as green manure. The grown flowers are plowed into the soil.
Clover
Excellent honey plant and source useful substances. For using it as green manure, the listed properties have a positive result. Clover is plowed in the summer, at the first shoots, or in the fall.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat protects and restores soil structure. It needs to be sown periodically throughout the garden, changing areas every year. With the help of such crop rotation, the land will rest well.
Rape
Contains essential oils, which inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Rapeseed is also useful for the garden because when its seedlings are plowed, the soil is enriched with sulfur, phosphorus, and nutrients.
Radish
Pancake day radish is used on the site as a nursery plant. It can rid the garden of nematodes and attract beneficial insects.
Depending on the type of problem, you must choose one of the above green manure products. They will help the soil heal and recover. Crops embedded in the soil will restore the balance of microelements.
The main knowledge of gardeners is the rules for alternating crop rotation, since the volume and quality of the new harvest depends on this. In this article we will look at what is recommended to plant after potatoes and what is not.
IN Lately When growing potatoes, a rather interesting technique began to be used, which involved changing the sowing location. If you do not change it, the yield and size of the root crop are significantly reduced. This is due to the fact that each plant requires a certain amount of microelements, which they draw from the ground.
After each season and harvest of this crop, the amount of microelements decreases, which affects the subsequent harvest. On large areas of land, concentrated chemical fertilizer is used to revitalize the soil. This allows you to short term restore level necessary elements in the soil for subsequent sowing of root crops and successful ripening.
But even the method given above does not allow the earth to fully recover. It is best that you do not sow anything after the potatoes for several seasons, and thereby help the soil gain strength. Over the years, the suitability of the site decreases significantly. For these reasons, gardeners say that they should plant after potatoes on next year better vegetables who require a different set of microelements. For these reasons, before you start planting a new root crop on your site, you need to find the answer to the question “What to plant after potatoes?” so that the land can rest.
Soil recovery time
In order for the harvest level to remain at the proper level, you need to adhere to some rules and recommendations before planting anything on the plot after potatoes. Most effective method soil restoration is the use of organic or mineral fertilizers. They will fill the earth with missing microelements.
Phosphorus and potassium should come first. It is advisable to apply them in the spring two weeks before sowing or in the fall after harvesting. Rotted manure is a fertilizer that gardeners often use. Before sowing new culture you need to treat the garden with manure so that it can grow normally after potatoes.
What to plant next
Now the moment has come when you will find out what to plant after potatoes next year.
The answer to the question “What should I plant after potatoes next year?” is green manure. You can later use these plants as fertilizer. It could be peas, mustard, oats, rapeseed or rye. You can also sow them between rows, which will promote growth and reduce the pain of the root crop to a minimum.
Experts say that it is possible and even necessary to plant turnips or table beets after potatoes. You can choose a more exotic option and sow daikon. Lettuce, spinach or radish will also work.
If your plans include replanting potatoes in the coming years, then before doing so, you should sow the following on your plot:
- zucchini;
- cucumbers;
- legumes;
- pumpkin;
After these vegetables, the soil will become favorable for sowing the above-mentioned root crop.
Of course, it’s good to know what you can plant after potatoes. However, it is also worth paying attention to the fact that you cannot plant after it. The first step is to avoid vegetables that can suffer from the same diseases and be infected with the same pests. For example, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants.
What to plant next
It is worth noting that certain types of vegetables correctly selected and sown nearby help increase yields. For potatoes, excellent companions will be:
- White cabbage;
- eggplant;
- corn;
- spinach;
- mint;
- horseradish;
- garlic;
- beans.
All of the above plants, if planted in company with potatoes, will become an excellent complement for each other and will grow well. As many years of experience have shown, such proximity helps to strengthen the potatoes and minimizes the number of diseases. And at the same time, potatoes will produce a high yield when grown for many years in one place.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the recommendations about what to plant after potatoes next year. To adhere to them, you do not need complex agricultural technology or chemicals. You just need to choose the right plants, fertilizers and timing for processing the beds. Don’t forget to give the earth a rest, and you will have a wonderful harvest that will delight you for many years.
In this video, an expert will talk about how to properly plant potatoes.