After harvesting, many people rush to take out the tops: potato, cabbage, squash. They think it's trash. But in fact, it is free “building material” for healthy soil.
Experienced gardeners do not burn or throw away tops. They place it between rows or under autumn beds. Over time, the stems rot, creating a light, breathable cushion in which earthworms breed, moisture is retained, and in the spring the earth is not crusty, but lush, alive, and warm to the touch.
How to do it right:
- Use only healthy tops without spots, rot, or signs of late blight.
- Cut the stems shorter so they will fall into the ground faster.
- Place them in trenches between future beds or directly under future plantings.
- Cover the top with a 5–7 cm layer of earth or humus.
- In winter, you can additionally mulch with hay or straw.
By spring, the stems will almost completely disappear, turning into humus. And the roots of cucumbers, tomatoes or carrots will grow not in “sand”, but in a soft, nutritious environment and will produce a large harvest, juiciness and resistance to drought.
Previously it was reported which varieties of cucumbers to choose in order to grow a large and rich harvest.
