Green Manures

Green manure Crops in Organic gardening. Green manure crops have long been used to improve the quality of the soil, prevent soil erosion and compaction. Primarily they are used to improve the water and nutrient retention qualities of the soil and raise nutrient levels, namely Nitrogen. Green manure crops are simply leafy plants that are cultivated for the sole purpose of being ploughed or dug back into the soil. Quick growing, easy to cultivate plants with large and nitrogen-rich foliage make the best green manure plants, like spinach, alfalfa, mustard and even lupins. Cereal crops such as fava beans, oats and buckwheat can also be grown and then ploughed back in to the soil to improve soil quality. Organic gardening depends upon the quality of the soil to assist the crops in fighting disease and resisting drought etc, therefore green manure could be considered an essential practice in organic gardening. Organic vegetable gardens benefit greatly from green manure and these green manure crops can also be composted to provide a healthy base for compost that can then be used as a mulch or soil improver in flower borders and under trees etc. TYPES OF GREEN MANURE PLANTS Alfalfa Alfalfa is extremely easy to grow and has roots that grow deep down in the earth (4to 5m) to search for buried nutrients, which it then brings to the surface in its foliage. It is a leguminous plant, similar to clover and like all leguminous plants, it is capable of drawing in Nitrogen from the air and releasing it through its roots via bacteria in special root nodules that subsequently fertilise the soil. This enables it to grow on very poor soils and its large root system allows it to grow in very dry soils. Alfalfa grows to around 1m tall and therefore creates a mass of green manure that can then be dug back in to the soil. Mustard Mustard grows to a height of around 1.50m and again has nutrient-rich foliage that can be used as a soil improver. It is a fast grower and should be cut down and dug into the soil before the seeds develop as they tend to germinate the following year and can become a nuisance in the garden. Spinach Again a fast growing, leafy vegetable that can be harvested for human consumption and then dug back in as a soil conditioner. They can also be given Insert body text here...