When can you plant mustard as green manure. Mustard - green fertilizer: what is the use, planting, growing, application

This plant is not only an excellent seasoning and good medicine, but also a good green manure, so many gardeners grow it in order to obtain high-quality fertilizer for the soil.

By itself, white mustard is annual plant, which belongs to the cruciferous family, and is close in “kinship” to radish and horseradish. It can grow up to 1 m in height. Flowers are white or yellow tint, and collected in inflorescences. The fruits are collected in pods. In addition, the plant is an excellent honey plant. Let's talk about when to sow white mustard as green manure.

White mustard: beneficial properties for the soil

Green manure is needed to restore the soil after harvest and to enrich it with nutrients. There are many of them in nature, and white mustard is only part of a large list. She, as a green manure (like the rest of the representatives of this group), is a plant rapidly gaining green mass. Subsequently, the greens are mowed and embedded in the soil.

white mustard useful for the soil in that it is capable of:

• improve the structure of the soil, making it looser and more moisture-intensive;
• enrich the soil with useful substances such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium and phosphorus;
• prevent the growth of weeds;
• protect the surface of the earth from overheating by shading it;
• attract beneficial insects during the flowering period;
• scare away some pests.

White mustard has high frost resistance, which is also a big plus. Thus, it is possible to start preparing green mass for sideration at any time of the year, except for winter.

When is it better to plant white mustard for green manure: in spring or autumn?

Let's talk more about when to sow white mustard for green manure. You can do this not only in spring and autumn, but also in summer - as convenient. But at the same time, it must be borne in mind that by the time of landing, night frosts should stop. The rest is unpretentious plant, which in short time will bear fruit.

Autumn planting of white mustard

So, if it is decided to sow white mustard for green manure in the fall, this should be done before planting frost-resistant crops, but after harvesting. The only strict advice is not to try to grow mustard in the place where cruciferous plants used to grow.

The seeds will sprout in early spring. When this happens, it is necessary to wait for the appearance of a green mass, and then remove it. Mustard roots remain in the ground, where they rot, thereby improving the structure of the soil, and filling it with useful elements.

You need to sow white mustard "dense" to increase the likelihood of getting good harvest green manure. Although the plant is hardy, frosts can kill some of the seeds. Therefore, it is recommended to sow more immediately.

Planting mustard for green manure in spring

Another option is to sow white mustard in the spring as green manure. Here, in principle, there are no restrictions and special recommendations, so let's go directly to the landing process. Since the plant produces a dense green mass, do not sow too densely.

It would be ideal to use 5 g of seeds per 1 square meter site. If you sow large quantity, in the future, the bushes will interfere with each other to develop. After laying the seeds, the earth is treated with a rake. Seedlings should appear in a couple of days.

Do not delay with the cleaning of green mass from the site. Experts recommend cutting the green manure in about one and a half to two months. You need to cut the greens with a chopper, taking two centimeters deep.

One of the main conditions is that the soil must be kept moist in order to eventually obtain high-quality fertilizer.

If the soil is too poor, it is recommended to supplement the green manure with compost. Paired with this substance, the green mass will endow the soil with the greatest amount of useful substances, and also, thanks to the compost, worms will appear, which are essential for the processing of green manure and its complete assimilation by the earth.

Now it is known when to sow white mustard in the fall as green manure, how to plant and grow it in the spring, and therefore you can do this useful thing when the right moment comes!

VIDEO: some facts about white mustard as green manure

Even more information can be gleaned from this video, and at the same time see exactly how white mustard is planted under green manure:

In the past few years, more and more gardeners have been planting on their summer cottages green manure. These are plants that are specially grown to saturate the soil with useful substances and trace elements. Mustard is often used for this purpose. It is characterized by rapid growth and is suitable for fertilizing the garden almost all year round.

Mustard is an annual herbaceous crop from the cruciferous family. The height of the green mass reaches 80 centimeters. The plant has a rod-type root system. The central root is powerful and long. It penetrates the soil to a depth of two meters. Lateral roots are small, poorly developed. Leaves are medium in size. Rigid hairs are observed on both surfaces. The flowers are yellowish, connected in inflorescences. Fruits are stringy. 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 are the benefits of mustard

This green culture contains useful elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as organic matter. These trace elements are especially needed by young plants, as they accelerate their growth.

Mustard greens, left for the winter, will protect the soil from winds and frosts. This plant is a good honey plant. It will attract bees to the summer cottage.

Mustard is planted as a fertilizer for various horticultural crops, except for cabbage, radish and radish, since they belong to the same family. Also given plant can be planted in rows near vegetables and fruit trees. It will accelerate their growth, increase productivity and protect against pests.

How to grow mustard

Mustard grows well in fertile, moist soils. She does not like marshy and acidic soils. Weather conditions practically do not affect the growth of green mass. Seeds germinate 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, rounded. Very often, the plant is sown in rows, the distance between which should be approximately 15 centimeters. The culture is characterized by large bushes that need enough space for good growth. Seeds are plowed into the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 centimeters. With deeper embedding, they will germinate for a long time. Mustard germinates 3-4 days after sowing.

Mustard can also be sown over the entire surface of the soil. To distribute it more evenly, the seeds are mixed with sand. A quarter cup of seeds is added to a glass of sand. Consumption rate - 20-25 grams of the mixture per square meter of land.

Planting mustard in spring

As a fertilizer, mustard is planted at a time when night frosts are no longer observed. Usually this is at least the beginning of April. At this time, the air temperature during the day will be 8-10 degrees. This is enough 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 mustard into the ground. A week after digging the soil, you can plant the main garden crops.

Another option is to plant plants between the growing mustard green mass. For this, greens are cut in places and holes are made in which the main crop is planted. A week later, the green mass is mowed and laid out on the surface of the soil, between the plants. It will act as a mulch, protecting the soil from drying out and suppressing the growth of weeds.

Planting in autumn

In autumn it green manure planted after harvest, when there is still at least a month left before the onset of cold weather. Very often, mustard is used to green the soil after potatoes or cereals. Before sowing the seeds loosen the soil. The consumption rate is 300-400 grams per hundred square meters. To sow the crop most evenly, the seeds are mixed with sand. 50 grams of mustard sip on 200 grams of sand.

After 20-25 days, when the height of the greenery is 15-20 centimeters, it can be mowed and plowed into the soil. Also, the plant can be left for the winter. Then it will hold the snow, and protect the soil from frost.

Another option is to sow late autumn. 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.

Landing in the summer

In summer, this plant is grown on soils that have been given a rest and do not plan to plant anything else this year. Since it takes 40-50 days from planting seeds to maturity, mustard can be grown three times in a season.

For the first time, the culture is sown in late May or early June. For continuous sowing per hundred square meters of land, 300-400 g of seeds will be needed. To make it more convenient 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 make this the appearance of flowers, since during flowering the stems sharply coarsen, respectively, they will decompose for a long time.

After 10-14 days, mustard seeds are sown a second time. This method of tillage helps to fertilize it, destroy pests and weeds. In addition, in the summer, mustard can be sown as green manure before planting seedlings of late vegetable crops.

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Sideration is the most effective method restoration of soil resources.

Even fertilizing with manure does not have such a long-term result as sowing white mustard in the fall.

This plant is able to release soil phosphates and accumulate them.

Leaves, roots, stems contain nitrogen in large quantities, which provides excellent sideration.

Benefits or why sow mustard in the fall?

This green manure is available to any gardener, easy to grow and effective. Its main purpose as a fertilizer is to enrich the soil with phosphorus and nitrogen. The green mass, dug into the ground, transmits these important elements subsequent plants, stimulating the process of their growth and development. In addition, mustard has the following useful features:

fast germination and high yields. Green mass is a complete fertilizer in composition.

High cold resistance. The sprouts can withstand temperatures down to -5 C. After a significant cooling, the plants cover the soil from freezing and help retain moisture in it until spring.

Lack of seed preparation. They are placed in the soil, falling asleep a small amount earth, sand or close up with a rake.

strong root system. Reaches 0.5 meters and loosens the ground to this depth. It can assimilate elements that are poorly soluble in water and inaccessible for this reason to other plants.

Increasing the air permeability of the earth. It is achieved by increasing the number of earthworms after sowing mustard in the fall.

erosion prevention. Dense sowing is used where there is a risk of soil erosion, wind damage. The stems of plants planted in early autumn will be able to perform the function of snow retention by frost.

Cons of autumn sowing mustard as green manure

The disadvantages of gardeners include:

1. Turning into a weed. If you do not mow mustard until the last, then it will coarsen, bloom. The cut off seed plants, most likely, will fall into the ground and germinate. This garden weed is difficult to remove from the soil.

2. Limited use. White mustard should not be grown in autumn where other cruciferous plants, such as radishes, turnips, cabbage, will have to be planted next season. These crops are subject to the same diseases and pests as mustard. Before them it is better to plant cereals, legumes.

When exactly is mustard planted in the fall?

Sowing time depends on the weather conditions in the region and the gardener's wishes regarding the expected germination and green manure period. autumn planting fertilizer is carried out in the following periods:

1. At the end of summer, early autumn. Sowing is done in moist soil, after harvest. Siderat grows well on large areas where previously there were potatoes, strawberries, cereals. Usually there is enough time from the moment of sowing to the beginning of flowering to get right amount green mass. So, when applying seeds immediately after harvesting, from 1 weave you can get about 400 kg of fertilizer, which must be mowed and applied for its intended purpose.

2. At the end of September. At late boarding grown stems do not mow, they die from frost and save the soil from the cold in winter. The roots, being in the ground, rot, nourishing, loosening the soil.

3. Before winter. Sowing mustard in late autumn is carried out so that the fertilizer rises in the spring. To do this, the seeds are placed in dug cold ground, left to winter there. So that the mustard does not freeze, does not wash out with melt water with a soil layer, it is necessary to increase the depth of embedding.

How to sow mustard in the fall

To create a high-quality fertilizer, the cultivation of green manure must obey following algorithm actions:

1. The beds should be cleared of residues of vegetables and weeds after harvest.

2. It is desirable to fertilize them with humus at the rate of 1 bucket per 1 sq. m.

3. The earth needs to be dug up, leveled with a rake, poured with water.

4. Next, you should start planting mustard in a row. The seeds are similar in size to small beans and are easy to grab and place in the soil. The distance between them should be at least 15 cm, between rows about 20 cm, as the plants grow.

5. About 250 g of seeds are planted on a hundred square meters of land. They should not be placed too far into the soil, this will slow down germination, the optimal depth should not exceed 1–1.5 cm. If there is not enough time, mustard can not be sown in rows, but scattered randomly on the ground. The result will be worse than in the case of uniform application, but still noticeable.

6. After planting mustard in the fall, the seeds are added dropwise or harrowed with an ordinary rake.

Plants germinate about 4 days after sowing, after a month their height is 15 cm. For full growth, development, mustard should be watered abundantly, in additional top dressing she doesn't need. It is desirable to have time to cut the siderat shoots before flowering for the following reasons:

The stems and petioles of the leaves coarsen with the appearance of flowers, which slows down the processing of green mass, the formation of fertilizer;

Spend on flowering nutrients plants, which contributes to the loss of green manure function;

Seed mustard will begin to multiply and can quickly become a hard to get rid of weed.

How to use mustard as a fertilizer?

You can mow the green mass with a flat cutter, chopper, oblique. After that, it must be embedded in the soil with a shovel to a depth of about 5 cm.

So minerals get into the ground, organic elements thus restoring its structure. If for some reason it is not possible to bury the greens, then you can leave it in the garden in the winter. Aboveground part rot, and the roots, decomposed, loosen the soil.

Gardeners are trying to speed up the process of biohumus formation with the help of Baikal EM-1. It contributes to the formation of a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria in the soil, which heals it and makes it more fertile. This product is really effective, but completely replace organic fertilizers, such as compost, humus, neither he nor green manure can.

As for the sandy clay soil, then planting mustard in the fall will not have a positive effect on the structure of the soil. A layer of humus will slowly form, seasonal vegetable growing will destroy it again. Therefore, unprepared lands are not suitable for sowing mustard in the fall for digging. They must first be improved, and then crop rotation should be applied in order to increase yields.

Using green manure for healing, soil nutrition, you need to keep in mind that plants consume, and then give the followers a set of useful substances, trace elements. So, it is quite difficult to ensure the balance of the nutrient medium only with the help of white mustard. For high-quality soil fertilization, it is necessary to grow different types green manure crops and do not forget about organic matter, A complex approach will give the best results.

Mustard is an annual plant that is in the cruciferous family. It needs seeds to grow. It is used as a fodder crop, as well as in the form of green manure. Previously, this plant was mainly used in the Mediterranean. Now many countries of the world actively use mustard.

The height of the plant is mainly 70 cm. It is decorated with feathery leaves, of which there are quite a lot of mustard. Her flowering is very plentiful, as a result of which pods appear. The seeds are yellow and there can be up to 15 of them on a pod. They are very small in size - up to a millimeter. Mustard flowering begins in June and ends in August. Pollination of bisexual flowers is possible due to wind, flies and bees.

Seed ripening begins in July and ends in September. They taste spicy and are actively used as a marinade or when preparing a sauce. The leaves of this plant can even be eaten, as in some countries they are added to the salad. The main thing is to use young leaves. But most often mustard is used as a fertilizer, which is quite effective. And if you want a seasoning from a plant, then the easiest way is to buy it in the store.

Mustard has a lot positive moments, but it is worth remembering that it is prone to diseases and pests. It can be affected by white rust, leaf spot, powdery mildew and keel. Therefore, it is necessary to know the secrets of how to sow mustard correctly.

Mustard sowing begins in March and ends in August. And when to dig up the mustard? You can immediately in the year when they sowed. Any soil is suitable for planting. If you live in the southern region, then the plant can be sown when spring comes or even when February is just ending.

But in order to have a high probability that mustard will grow, it is sown almost shortly before the main crop, including berries and vegetables, is planted.

If you have planted cabbage, radish, radish or other cruciferous plants, then after them you cannot sow mustard. Why? The fact is that they have common pests and diseases. And with a turnip, the plant does not even grow close.

It is good to start sowing mustard before the flower beds and flower beds were laid out. Sow it before bulbous and rhizomatous flowers. Due to green manure, which rot, plant growth slows down. Therefore, if you just mowed mustard, you need to wait about a week to sow and plant vegetables and berries in the same place.

Mustard white as green manure - when to sow it in the fall? The months of August and September are suitable for this. So you can leave it for the winter. If the plant has grown well up to extreme cold, then it is mowed, and the soil is cultivated.

Mustard, located in the southern region, grows faster. Therefore, it is disembarked in mid-September or October. fast growing plant able to ascend even at a fairly low temperature - up to 5 degrees Celsius. At the same time, it partially germinates at plus 2. It is also interesting that when growth occurs, even when subzero temperature, then the green mustard leaves will continue to grow. They are able to withstand minus 5. If the autumn is warm, then a plant sown in October can reach 10 cm in height.

Mustard as green manure is sown in the fall immediately after the harvest. Do not hesitate with this question, because literally in 3 days weeds will begin to appear.

A good example of how to use mustard

When August ends, the tomato is usually harvested, which grows in the open field. In parallel with this, sow mustard around each bush. When the crop is already harvested and the middle of September has come, add the vetch-oat mixture to the plant. As far as the temperature allows, leave green manure so that they continue to grow in winter time. AT spring time the area is plowed with a cultivator.

What if the plant managed to grow strongly during the fall? Then do not plow it, but leave it as mulch. Now water the area with phytosporin, after which you can plant a tomato.

How to sow mustard in autumn? For this sowing to be effective, it is important to prepare each bed in advance. When you have removed the main crop, then begin to clear the plantation of weeds. Also, it should not contain vegetable residues. For every square meter, about 2 buckets of humus will go. If necessary, add some dolomite flour, dig and fence the site. It is important that those clods of earth that are very large are leveled with a rake.

How to sow mustard in the fall so that good result? There is no need to make any rows or measure the distance. Sowing is very dense - just take the seeds in a handful and pour them gradually, like salt into soup. Approximately one square meter will take up to 5 grams of seeds. Do not be afraid of dense sowing. Because of the carpet seedlings, the rains will not wash out the nutrients from the soil, and therefore there will be no soil erosion.

If you plan to make seasoning from mustard, then use the row method. Between each seed there should be 10 cm, and between a row - 20 cm. When the bush grows, it will be strong, and the rows begin to close. If necessary, when the plant grows, thin it out.

Whatever technique you use, don't plant the seeds too deep. Because of this, germination may be delayed. Plant the seed no deeper than 1 cm. If you plant the plant as green manure, then it is quite possible for the seeds to remain on top of the soil. At the same time, it is important that the earth is loose and it is necessary to water it in a timely manner.

Light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils are best suited for the plant. Well suited dense black soil, as well as drained areas. Mustard will grow with great difficulty on clay soil, because only loose soil is suitable for it. With regard to the acidity of the soil, any is suitable. Including acidic, neutral and alkaline soil. You can plant mustard both in the shade and directly in the sun itself.

Plant germination is very fast. If the conditions are favorable, then the sprout will appear in 5 days. After that, growth slows down somewhat. After a month, your entire lawn will be covered in mustard. After some more time, you will see beautiful buds, and after another week there will be yellow flowers, which will bloom for a long time and attract bumblebees and bees for pollination.

Dijon mustard requires sufficient moisture, as it has a superficial root system. If a dry period sets in, it is important to water the plant thoroughly so that the soil does not dry out. Mustard does not need additional feeding.

We mow mustard correctly

How fast a plant will grow depends largely on watering and temperature regime. Within a month, you will be able to notice an increase of 20 cm. However, if you plan to mow the sprouts, then it is important to focus not on growth, but on flowering.

It is very important to mow before flowering occurs. There are at least three reasons for this:

• when flower stalks are formed, the stems and petioles are coarsened near the leaves. As a result, the green mass is not so quickly processed in the soil. It is important that the leaves are tender, then they can quickly become green manure.
• when the mustard is already in bloom, its nutrients are spent, which the soil needs so much. The siderate function is lost. But if you mow it in time, then vegetables and berries will be able to get the necessary nutrition;
• if mustard has formed seeds, then its reproduction occurs by self-sowing, which turns essential plant into a common weed.

When you have already mowed the plant, you need to carefully dig the area. As tools, use a shovel, chopper and flat cutter. In dry weather and rare rains, water the area in a timely manner. Only if the soil is moist will worms and other microorganisms “work” in it.

Biohumus is formed faster and the soil bears fruit better if certain additional preparations are used, for example, Baikal EM-1. This product is pretty good. However, it is not suitable for poor, depleted soil. In addition, it does not work well without organic matter - humus and compost. How often does the earth need such humus? At least once every 4 years.

It is not always possible to improve the condition of the soil by sowing mustard. If the soil is sandy and clayey, then the formation of the humus layer is too slow. In this matter, the use of mustard for digging is not suitable. This option is only suitable when crops alternate and the land is already well developed.

What if you planted mustard and it didn't produce its seeds when it grew? Then do not mow it, but leave it for the winter. With the help of a cultivator or flat cutter in the spring, it can simply be dug up. So it can be used as mulch. However, this option is not as practical as using straw, sawdust and other materials.

When is the best time to plant mustard?

This question may concern a young gardener who has not yet encountered this plant. If you use mustard as a fertilizer, then the month of April will do. As soon as the night frosts are over, and the temperature has reached 10 degrees, you can practice planting.

Also, planting can be carried out in the autumn, when all crops are removed from the site. Use the remaining warm days to land. For example, where there was a place for potatoes or cereals, you can plant mustard. This will allow large areas of the soil to improve.

It is rare that mustard is planted before winter sets in. In some cases, this is practical, because then the seeds will grow in the spring. But here it is very important to guess when to plant the plant. The soil should not only be cold, but also well loosened. Do not disturb the seeds until spring, however they should not freeze. How to achieve this? The depth to which you plant the seeds should be sufficient so that they are not washed away by spring meltwater.

It is important to properly treat the soil before planting seeds in it. How to do it? This largely depends on the predecessors of the plant, for example, potatoes or legumes. But whatever the predecessors, the soil must be well moistened, weeds destroyed and leveled. upper layer soil. Then there is a possibility that mustard seedlings will be plentiful.

During the period of sowing care, it is necessary to carry out certain activities in order to create for the plant optimal conditions. Before sowing the seeds, they must be treated so that the seedlings are protected from pests. A good preparation for this is "Oftanol", thanks to which mustard will not suffer from cruciferous flea.

Small results

Mustard is very useful plant especially if you have a garden plot. It can not only fertilize the soil. In some cases, this plant protects other crops from pests.

For planting seeds, there is no need to know any special secrets, because it sits right on the open ground. During care, you do not need to carry out complex procedures. The most common in our time has become white mustard. she has many useful qualities. In addition, summer residents actively use it to fight pests. Applying simple tips from this article, you will also be able to appreciate the great benefits of a plant such as mustard.

Even the most fertile soil garden plot sooner or later will require fertilization. It is best if it is organic: humus, peat. However, such top dressing is inevitably followed by rapid growth of weeds. For this reason, many gardeners opt for sowing green manure plants, which are a complete green fertilizer. These are cereals (rye, oats), legumes (peas, clover, alfalfa, vetch), cruciferous crops (rapeseed, colza, oil radish, mustard). Each plant has advantages and disadvantages, so their choice must be approached wisely.

What is good mustard

I must say that all types of mustard (white, black, leafy) have the right to be classified as green manure. At the same time, leaf can be successfully used in cooking, cutting succulent leaves 2 weeks after sowing. Black mustard is little used as a green manure. This is due to her love of warmth.

White mustard, unlike its relative, withstands spring frosts up to - 5оС. It is unpretentious to soils, because its root system is able to penetrate to a depth of 2 meters, breaking even the heaviest soil. Mustard brings nutrients to the surface and converts them into an easily digestible form, making them available to their cultural followers. Mustard saturates the soil especially well with phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen.

The value of mustard, which is often sown as a compactor to keep weeds from growing, is rapid growth. Moreover, cold weather does not slow down this process at all. Mustard seedlings appear already on the 3rd-4th day, and the highest rate of growth and development of the plant occurs precisely at the beginning of the growing season. Literally in 1.5 months, mustard is able to rise to a height of 20 cm. Although it can reach 80 cm, such achievements are unacceptable for the use of mustard as a fertilizer. You should not wait for the phase of its active flowering in order to bury the crushed green mass in the ground.

All green manure plants are used to control weeds, but their action is different. If rye itself is aggressive to any kind of vegetation and lets only cornflowers into its territory, then mustard is much more “accommodating” in this regard. With rare sowing, weeds will still break through, therefore, if mustard is supposed to be propagated not only to saturate the soil with minerals, but also from weeds, then you need to take care of sufficient planting density.

Rules for sowing white mustard from a weed

On average, 2.5 g of seeds per square meter is recommended. To get rid of weeds and some diseases and pests in the soil (and mustard is effective in the fight against wireworm, nematode, late blight, scab), the number of seeds increases to 4-6 g. Since mustard is an early ripening crop, its crops can be produced starting from mid-April and ending in mid-August, occupying areas not yet planted or already freed from vegetables.

Sowing mustard from a weed does not require any special agricultural practices. Seeds can be distributed in the furrows or scattered by hand, planting to a depth of 1.5–2 cm with a rake. It all depends on the size of the sown area. It should be noted that watering is required for friendly shoots. Mustard is a moisture-loving crop, but excessive moisture, like drought, can be harmful.

When using mustard crops as green manure, it must be taken into account that it cannot be sown where cruciferous plants have grown or will be planted, since it itself belongs to this family and may be susceptible to the same diseases. Since mustard is supposed to be planted in the soil after 1.5 months from the moment of planting, one more rule must be strictly followed: other crops can be planted in the place where the green mass of green manure is dug up, only 2-3 weeks after this action.

Following this recommendation, it is good to plant mustard in early spring in the place where tomatoes will grow. In Siberia, for example, these vegetables are planted in open ground only by the middle of June. Mustard sown in mid-April will not allow weeds to flood the area that has been empty for so long and will create a favorable environment for the nutrition of future plants.

Related article

Sources:

• The benefits of mustard as green manure
• Growing mustard: its benefits and harms
• Growing white mustard as green manure
• When to sow mustard

Lettuce, or leaf, mustard was first cultivated in the Mediterranean. It also grows wild in China, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Mustard leaf is a very useful herb that is used in many recipes intended for the diet of sick people.

Benefits of mustard leaf

Young leaf mustard is a rich source of carotene, protein, vitamins C, B, PP, as well as salts of iron, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, glycosides and essential oils. It has anti-inflammatory properties, improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and with regular use reduces cholesterol levels. Also in the sheet is a large number of folic acid.

The main difference between leaf mustard and its other analogues is that all useful material operate in combination, not in isolation.

In addition, leafy mustard protects against the development of cancer - the risk of their occurrence is reduced if you regularly use this plant. The composition contains antioxidants and vitamins, but besides them, leafy mustard is known for such important phytonutrients for the body as quercetin, kaempferol, hydroxycinnamic acids and isorhamnetin. The stems and leaves of this mustard improve appetite and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Use of mustard leaf

Mustard leaves are ideal for meat dishes, salads and sandwiches. Juicy young shoots of the plant are salted and preserved, and mustard powder, mustard plasters and mustard alcohol are prepared from its seeds, effective for radiculitis and rheumatism. Cooks use the tender young leaves of leaf mustard, adding them to various salads and soups, or making them (fried, pickled, canned) as a side dish.

The leaves of this mustard have a bitter taste and a rather strong smell, which makes them very much appreciated in Chinese cuisine.

The most popular snacks leafy mustard are sandwiches and cheese paste. To prepare the pasta, you need to grate 100 grams of cheese or hard cheese, add 50 grams of chopped mustard leaf and 1 tablespoon of butter to the cheese mass. The paste must be thoroughly mixed and can be spread on bread.

For mustard sandwiches you will need:
- 1 cup finely chopped mustard leaves;
- 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise;
- 4 slices of black bread;
- butter to taste.

Mustard leaves should be mixed with mayonnaise, put on two slices of bread, and the remaining two pieces should be spread butter and put them on top of the mustard slices. The remaining mustard mixture is placed on top of the finished sandwiches and gently smeared with a spoon.

You can plant white mustard throughout the garden season. It can be sown in rows, buried in the soil to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, or you can evenly scatter the seeds in the right place and level them with a rake from above. Water if necessary.

White mustard is an annual oil plant with deep roots and a large green mass, the height of which varies from 30 to 80 cm. It blooms collected in a brush yellow flowers giving off a strong honey smell. Subsequently, fruits are formed from the flowers - long pods with seeds. White mustard is used as a green manure or fertilizer.

Why is it useful

Due to the roots deeply penetrating into the ground, mustard is able to loosen, structure and drain the soil well. The substance secreted by the root system has a detrimental effect on. The pest avoids areas planted with white mustard.

During the mowing period, when the green mass of the plant enters the soil, a large number of microorganisms flock to its processing, which enrich the earth. White mustard is able to suppress the growth of weeds.

The culture also contributes to the easier assimilation of sparingly soluble nutrients - phosphates by other plants. The dense shell of mustard prevents wind and water erosion in spring and autumn periods. In winter, mustard peels do not allow the soil to freeze much. Essential oils contained in all parts of the plant prevent the accumulation of pests and fungi in the soil.

How and when to plant

It is not difficult to sow rye: in the fall, after harvesting, it is enough to level the beds and scatter seeds on the soil surface in the required amount. After that, with the help of a rake, you need to close the grains into the ground. It is important to weather were suitable, and the ground was moist. Rye germinates quickly and produces an abundant green mass that can be mowed before the first snow.

You can use another method of sowing rye for green crops: in rows. In this case, the bed is preliminarily drawn into even strips 2-2.5 cm deep. When sowing this cereal crop, the land should be sufficiently loose, which is ensured by harvesting in the fall. In the spring, it is undesirable to do deep plowing, it is good enough to loosen the soil.

A plant of the cruciferous family - white mustard - is extremely valued in horticulture as a green manure. It germinates quickly, actively increases its mass (more than 400 kg of greenery can be obtained from one hundred square meters) and is not afraid of cold weather.

Properties of mustard as green manure

Mustard is highly drought tolerant and adapts well to any temperature. Interest in mustard is due to the high content in its seeds and, above all, green mass. organic compounds(22%), as well as nitrogen (0.71%), potassium (0.43%) and phosphorus (0.92%).

In addition, mustard is an excellent honey plant; at the time of flowering, it attracts pollinating insects to neighboring crops. The plant is also widely used as animal feed.

After decomposition in the soil, green manure mustard turns into an easily digestible fertilizer, saturating the soil with organic matter and forming humus. In addition, mustard inhibits the growth of weeds. And due to the presence of essential oils, this plant heals the soil and prevents the accumulation of pests and infections in it.

Mustard serves as food for soil worms, absorbs sparingly soluble elements from the soil that are inaccessible to plants, converts them into readily available nutrient forms. This green manure well loosens, drains and structures the soil, increasing moisture capacity and aeration.

Seeding mustard

Mustard prefers light, sandy loam soils, sod-podzolic, but it also feels good on all other soils except for heavy clay and solonchak soils. You can sow the crop in spring and autumn. In spring - a month before planting root crops and potatoes (in April), in autumn - after harvesting root crops.

The earlier mustard is sown, the less likely it is to damage its seedlings. cruciferous fleas. You should not sow mustard as a predecessor of other cruciferous representatives, since plants from the same family are damaged by common diseases and pests.

white mustard seeds medium size. When sowing by hand (without the use of a seeder), it is necessary to densely pour them into loosened soil and close them with a rake. A plot of 10 acres will require about 1.5 kg of white mustard seeds.

The plant sprouts quickly, already on the third day. Mustard is a moisture-loving culture, it requires most moisture during germination and during budding. It is one of the most cold-resistant green manure. Mustard seeds sprout at +1…2оС, and young shoots easily endure autumn or spring cooling down to -5оС.

A month and a half after germination, the green manure reaches 20-25 cm in height and it is time to mow it and bury it in the ground. The processes of decomposition of mustard residues in the soil come better in the presence of moisture. Therefore, if autumn (or spring) turned out to be dry, watering or irrigation is necessary.

White mustard is an excellent green manure. It is undemanding to air temperature, but will not grow well on all soils. This crop is planted several times during the season, but after some plants it cannot be sown.

Why you should plant mustard

On light, nutrient-rich soil, any crop will feel great. White mustard will help make the land like this. It is able to raise moisture, trace elements from a depth of 2-3 meters. All this powerful plant will accumulate in itself. Then it will be enough to mow the plantation and leave the culture right in the garden. Overheating, it will give its nutrients to the topsoil, which is valuable for crops that will grow after it.

Another excellent quality of this crop is weed suppression. mustard grows solid wall and the unwanted guests of the garden simply will not have a chance to break through to the light to grow.

White mustard - the orderly of the site. In the place where it grew, the number of slugs, wireworms, and pea codling moth will significantly decrease. Fungal infections such as potato scab, root rot, rhizoctoriosis will not occur on the ridges where this natural disinfectant grew.

When and where to plant

After the expediency of breeding this culture has become obvious, it is important to decide where, when and mustard. The plant belongs to the cabbage family, therefore, it is not sown on the territory where such crops grew.

White mustard is a cold-resistant crop. She will bear return frosts up to - 5оС. Therefore, in the spring sow it in early dates- as soon as the snow melts and the soil thaws a little. The plant loves sandy, cultivated peat, sod-podzolic soils. On loam, it will be capricious, and on heavy clay it will grow very poorly. Therefore, plant it in a previously cultivated area.

Landing Tricks

Loosen the soil with a flat cutter to a depth of 5 cm. There are 2 main planting methods:

In furrows;
- in bulk.

If the first method is chosen, make furrows 2 cm deep. The distance between them is 15-17 cm. If you like the second method, then simply scatter the mustard seeds on the area dug in advance and cover them with a rake. The first one is more economical - 120-150 g of seeds are needed per hundred square meters. In the second case, the costs for the same site will be 300-400 g, but there will be more green mass.

Soon the seeds will germinate. Water them periodically. Then the culture will grow rapidly. In mid-May, cut it off with a flat cutter, leave it right on the ridges. It must be cut before flowering. Plant after it, for example, potatoes, tomatoes.

You can sow mustard several times a season. In order for it to give a lot of green mass, do it for the last time before August 10. If you did it later, the plant will show its disinfecting properties, but it will give less green fertilizer.