Grain green manures are ideal for some summer residents, while for others they are not the best green manure plants. It is necessary to stop your choice on these crops only taking into account the composition of the soil on the site and the purpose of planting them. In order not to be mistaken in your choice, you need to get acquainted in more detail with the beneficial properties of each cereal green manure.
The best green manure among the cereal family and not only
Barley
The great advantage of this plant is that it is drought tolerant. Barley can be planted in areas where rainfall is rare and will withstand any drought. This green manure is able to renew and improve the quality of the soil and suppress almost all weeds of herbaceous plants.
Barley can be planted in early spring, as it can withstand air temperature drops to 5 degrees below zero, which is very common during this period.
The plant is gaining green mass very quickly. Already 30-40 days after planting, green manure can be mowed. 100 square meters of land will require about 2 kilograms of seeds.
Oats
This green manure culture is afraid of frost, although the plant is considered cold-resistant. It is recommended to plant it in spring and late summer, but taking into account the fact that even mild frosts, oats will not withstand. In the spring (in the first week of April) oats should be planted in areas that are intended for planting late-ripening crops. And the second sowing of green manure should begin after harvesting early ripening vegetables, around August, so that before the first cold weather the oats can be mowed.
This green manure enriches the soil with potassium and is an excellent precursor for bell peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. It is these vegetable crops that most need this nutrient.
Oats grow very well in peat and acidic soils. The root system of this plant contains unique substances that are capable of destroying fungal diseases, in particular root rot and its pathogens. Sowing twice, in spring and summer, will provide the beds with significant weed protection, as oats are good at suppressing them.
One hundred square meters of the garden will require about one and a half kilograms of seeds. The green mass of green manure must be mown before active flowering.
The beneficial properties of oats include the ability to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins. For this purpose, it is recommended to eat green sprouts of this cereal green manure.
Buckwheat
This member of the cereal family is distinguished by its rapid growth. In a short time, buckwheat grows in height by 50 centimeters, while its root system grows three times longer (almost 1.5 meters). The plant is drought-resistant, feels great in the neighborhood of berry bushes and fruit trees, does not dry out the soil.
This green manure plant is recommended to be planted in heavy and depleted soils, in areas with a high level of soil acidity. Buckwheat can grow in almost any area and save the beds from the appearance of weeds (for example, wheatgrass).
100 square meters of land will require approximately 600 grams of buckwheat seeds. Siderat is sown twice - at the end of May and at the beginning of September. Collecting green mass is carried out before flowering.
Rye
This frost-resistant crop is recommended to be sown before winter. The optimal time for planting is the last weeks of August or the first month of spring. Rye grows in a dense green carpet and does not allow other plants to develop. This applies not only to weeds on the site, but also to other crops adjacent to rye. Therefore, rye is absolutely not suitable for joint plantings. Another property of this green manure is an obstacle to the development and life of soil pests.
Any land plots are suitable for growing this cereal. Rye grows well on virgin lands, as well as on wetlands. Wet soils are preferred as rye has the ability to dry out the soil.
For every 100 square meters when sowing, about 2 kilograms of seeds are consumed. For spring planting, rye is usually mown in mid-May, so that about two more weeks remain before planting vegetables. Rye is a good precursor for tomatoes and cucumbers, for squash and pumpkin, for eggplant and late cabbage.
Rye can also serve as a decorative decoration of the site, if you plant it along the fence.
Calendula
This medicinal plant is an excellent green manure for many vegetable crops and is often used in joint plantings, as it has a large number of beneficial properties. The material aspect is also important. The seeds of this plant can be collected for free, as calendula is found in almost all city flower beds.
Green manure grows very quickly, grows green mass in large quantities, and besides, it is able to heal and improve the condition of any land plot. Calendula is a good precursor for tomatoes.
The scent of calendula flowers repels such a common pest as the Colorado potato beetle. That is why joint planting of this green manure with potatoes, zucchini and eggplants is recommended.
The consumption of seeds is small, only 100 grams per one hundred square meters of land. After harvesting the main harvest of early vegetables (approximately in the first weeks of August), it is already possible to sow calendula before winter. The green mass is mown approximately 40-45 days after planting.
Phacelia
Phacelia is a miracle green manure that has many beneficial qualities. If you cannot decide on the choice of green manure in your area, then feel free to plant phacelia. She will definitely not let you down by any indicators. Its advantages:
- Drought-resistant.
- Frost-resistant (grows even at 8-9 degrees of frost).
- Can grow in shady areas.
- It is an excellent precursor for absolutely all berries and vegetables.
- It can grow on all types of soil.
- Resists various weeds.
- Scares away pests.
- Prevents the occurrence of diseases of fungal and viral origin.
This green manure is most effective when sown in a mixture with legume seeds. Seed consumption is 100-200 grams per one hundred square meters of land. This unique plant can be sown in early March, during the summer season and in the fall. Mowing of green mass can be carried out in about a month and a half.
Amaranth
Amaranth is rarely sown as a green manure plant. More often it is used as a vegetable crop and for growing seeds. Amaranth can grow on any type of soil, but does not like excess moisture. Able to tolerate drought and almost no disease. The green manure plant can, with the help of a deep root system (almost 2 meters in length), improve the condition of the soil.
Amaranth is a thermophilic crop that is recommended to be planted in the summer or in the second half of autumn. Greens are usually mown before flowering and always before the onset of severe cold weather with frost.
Remember that when planting green manure plants on your site, the effect of their presence will be noticeable only after a few seasons.
