Autumn is not the time to say goodbye to your garden until spring. It is now, when the last harvest has been harvested and the earth is preparing for winter rest, that the foundation for future fertility can be laid. Sowing green manure at the end of October seems like a gamble, but some crops manage not only to sprout, but also to fulfill their mission before the arrival of real frosts.
The secret of success is in the right choice of green manure plants. They must have frost resistance, rapid germination and the ability to grow green mass even at low temperatures. Such crops manage to form a root system, which improves the structure of the soil, and their greenery, left in the beds, becomes a natural fertilizer.
Best candidates for late seeding:
White mustard a real record holder for autumn sowing. Its seeds germinate even at +2…+3°C, and seedlings can withstand frosts down to -6°C. In 3-4 weeks it manages to rise 15-20 cm, and its roots release substances that heal the soil.
Winter rye – a classic of autumn green manure. Develops a powerful root system that perfectly loosens even heavy soil. It is not afraid of frost, and continues to grow in the spring, providing early green mass.
Phacelia – a universal green manure with openwork foliage. It is cold-resistant, germinates quickly and is not afraid of the first frosts. Its tender stems easily decompose in the soil, enriching it with nitrogen.
The beds are cleared of plant debris and the surface is slightly loosened. Seeds are sown in furrows 2-3 cm deep or simply scattered over the surface, followed by embedding with a rake. The seeding rate is usually higher than in spring – about 200-300 g per hundred square meters. Crops are watered abundantly if the soil is dry.
An important nuance: do not mow autumn green manure. Left in beds, they create a natural cover that traps snow and protects the soil from erosion. In spring, the rotted mass becomes an excellent fertilizer for the first plantings.
Green manure has time to develop a root system that penetrates the soil, creating channels for air and water. Their green mass, left on the surface, acts as mulch, and gradually decomposes, enriching the earth with nutrients. In addition, a dense cover of green manure suppresses the growth of wintering weeds.
