What is green manure and how is it made?

Green manure

Today we have a wide variety of products for the care of our plants, which we will find in nurseries, garden stores and agricultural warehouses. However, many of them can be dangerous to health, and in fact, in the same container it is specified that contact with the eyes and mouth must be avoided, and that it can also harm the environment.

Well, what do you think of the idea of ​​making a green manure? And I am not referring only to the color of the leaves of the plants that are used to make it, but also to its magnificent qualities. Let's know how to do it.

What is green manure?

Avena sativa

Green manuring is that fast-growing crop (or crops) that are planted, cared for until they mature, then harvested and buried in the same place. In this way, soil physical properties are improved, making it more fertile. Its effects are very varied, but all very positive:

  • Limit the development of weeds.
  • They provide nitrogen to the ground if it is legumes.
  • Protect the soil from erosion and desiccation.
  • Stimulate immediate biological activity and improve soil structure.

What plants are used?

trifolium repens

The plants that are used to make green manure are those that belong to the legume, cruciferous and grass family.

Legume plants

They are the most used, since fix nitrogen atmospheric to the ground. The most used species are:

  • trifolium repens
  • Villosa vetch
  • Lathyrus satyrum
  • Melilotus officinalis
  • Etc

Grass plants

Grasses are usually sown together with legumes, since both form stable humus. The most used plants are:

  • Dry cereal
  • Avena sativa

Cruciferous plants

Cruciferous plants have a very fast growth rate, so they are the most suitable option when you do not have much time. The most recommended are:

  • Brassica napus var. oleifera
  • Raphanus the radish

How to make green compost?

Making green compost is very easy, you just have to follow these steps:

  1. The first thing to do is choose a corner of the garden where to plant the plants.
  2. Then the grass is removed and it is thrown, for example, into the compost bin.
  3. Then, levels off a bit the terrain.
  4. Now, it's time to plant Broadcast the seeds of the herbs trying not to leave empty holes. In the case of legumes, however, it is more recommended to sow them in rows.
  5. Finally, it waters.

When they mature, that is, when you see that they are going to bloom, you have to cut them and bury them in the same place. For the next season you can grow whatever you want there 🙂.


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  1.   Wilson said

    Good morning, very good information, thank you very much, just a favor, if possible, the name of the plants to use as green manure could be put in examples such as: cabbages, turnips, etc.