Siderata Are plants that help restore soil fertility. They are planted in areas before and after a vegetable (or any other) crop. The most famous siderates among gardeners and summer residents are cruciferous. They have their own advantages over other plants.
These are the most viable and unpretentious plants. They do not need high-quality soils, their mineral composition is not important to them. Cruciferous siderata can heal any soil. Their root secretions repel many known pests (for example, the pea moth and slugs), and also interfere with the development of many infectious diseases (for example, late blight).
Unfortunately, they have one drawback - it is susceptibility to the same diseases as cabbage. But, observing the crop rotation and alternating planting, this can be avoided.
Siderata of the cruciferous family are planted in areas where eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes will grow. The most popular siderates are salad mustard, rape and radish.
The best siderates from the cruciferous family
Mustard
Mustard seeds can be purchased from specialized stores at affordable prices. They sprout quickly and grow well. You need to sow mustard seeds in the month of August and September. This annual herb is frost-resistant (up to 5 degrees below zero). For each hundred square meters of land, approximately 120 grams of seeds are needed.
Mustard grows very quickly. You can cut it when its growth reaches about 20 centimeters in height. All cut plants are further used for soil mulching.
With the help of mustard, the soil is structured to a depth of three meters. This green manure normalizes moisture and air exchange of the soil, prevents it from freezing in winter.
Rape
This plant grows poorly on clay and waterlogged soils. Rape is cold-resistant and will easily survive small frosts. This tall plant has very long roots, which help to "take" the necessary nutrients from the soil and turn them into an easier form for plants to assimilate.
A plot of one hundred square meters will need approximately 350 grams of seeds. For every 50 grams of seeds when sowing, add 150 grams of dry sand.
It will be possible to cut rapeseed in one month. During this time, the siderat will grow by almost 30 centimeters.
Oil radish
This annual green manure has spreading branches. Radish is considered the most unpretentious cruciferous plant. It can feel great both during dry periods and with a strong drop in air temperature. Perfectly tolerates shady growing conditions. It grows very quickly and does not allow any weeds to develop, even wheatgrass.
Radish grows on almost any soil, reacts positively to abundant watering, but in especially hot and sultry weather conditions it can, with the help of the root system, obtain the necessary moisture for itself.
Each hundred square meters of land will require about four hundred grams of seeds. Before sowing, they must be mixed with dried sand.Seeds are planted after harvesting the most recent crops in terms of ripening. This green manure grows so fast that it will have time to build up the necessary green mass.
Oil radish is ideal for slightly acidic soil. It loosens its top layer perfectly. It contains such useful components as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Rapeseed (rape)
This is the most common plant that everyone knows from early childhood. It grows everywhere, in a wide variety of soils. This green manure is very fond of watering. With each abundant watering, the green mass is rapidly gaining strength, and the plant rapidly grows in growth.
You can sow seeds until mid-September. One hundred and fifty grams of them will be required for one hundred square meters of land. The rape reaches the required growth in a month and a half. It contains potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. This green manure perfectly enriches the soil.
Remember that a preparation with effective microorganisms can help the greening process. It will be enough to irrigate with the addition of an EM-preparation solution.
