What is good about rye, how is it a green manure in the fall and how to plant it correctly
Many gardeners consider rye one of the best green manures. This crop is an excellent fertilizer that can be used as an organic fertilizer for other plants. Rye is undemanding to soil and resistant to cold and drought.
However, its cultivation as green manure crop requires certain knowledge. From the article you will learn how to properly grow rye as a green manure, what are the pros and cons of this crop.
What does rye provide as a green manure?
Often winter rye as green manure is used to improve and enrich the soil composition. It copes well with low-nutrient or sandy soil and its high acidity.
Properties and effect
The main feature of winter rye is the ability to grow greens throughout the season.
During the decomposition of cereal sprouts, the soil is enriched with nitrogen and potassium substances. Crops subsequently planted in this soil more easily assimilate and absorb hard-to-reach phosphorus compounds from the soil.
The effect of sowing rye in the fall as a green manure is that the soil is enriched with useful mineral components. The soil becomes lighter, looser, saturated with oxygen and better able to retain moisture.
Rye as green manure reduces soil freezing traps more snow. This is especially important in conditions of little snow in the winter.
Advantages and disadvantages of using rye as green manure
The following are noted positive qualities of rye:
- does not require special growing conditions;
- affordable;
- unpretentious, can grow on any soil: acidic, sandy, depleted;
- the branched root system allows you to extract the necessary nutrients and make them easily digestible for other plants;
- After this crop, you can plant many vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers;
- repels various pests, such as nematodes;
- destroys harmful bacteria and microorganisms;
- when planted two years in a row as a green manure, it is capable of suppressing the growth of some weeds (birch, wheatgrass);
Among the negative points The cereal crop has the property of drying out the soil. Therefore, during drought, be sure to water the plantings.
Important! Rye should not be planted between trees or garden crops, as this can lead to a decrease in their yield.
Do not forget about timely harvesting of crops from the site. If you bring the grain to heading, the greens will become coarse and will be very difficult to cut and chop.
What plants is it suitable for?
Most summer residents sow this cereal under potatoes. This has its advantages. Rye prepares the soil well for planting vegetables.. But rye roots are my favorite food wireworm - the worst enemy of potatoes. This pest also causes great harm to the vineyard.
If you nevertheless decide to plant potatoes or grapes on your plot, it is recommended to sow the grain mixed with mustard or lupine.
The most ideal followers for rye: cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, radishes, peppers, beans, peas, pumpkin, raspberries, strawberries.
Interesting things on the site:
Similarities and differences between wheat and rye in application
What varieties of rye are there: seed, winter and other types
For which ones not?
Since rye and other grains have common diseases and pests, this green manure is not suitable for further sowing of all cereal crops, even for decorative ones.
Also rye is not planted with vegetables and fruits, since it will take all the water and nutrients, thereby preventing other plants from fully developing.
Planting dates before winter
To improve the soil, winter rye varieties are mainly sown. This is done as areas are cleared of planting. In central Russia, work is carried out in three stages:
- In the end of August;
- at the beginning of autumn;
- at the end of September.
In the southern regions, optimal planting times are winter rye - the period from mid-October to the first ten days of November.
How to sow correctly
First you need to select a site for sowing and add organic and mineral fertilizers there.
Sowing work is carried out according to the following scheme:
- All weeds and other plant debris are removed from the garden bed;
- the soil is slightly loosened with a hoe, and can be watered if necessary;
- the seeds are placed in grooves that are located at a distance of at least 15 cm from each other; you can also scatter the seeds throughout the soil in a chaotic manner.
After sowing Be sure to mix the seeds with soil to prevent birds from eating them.
Planting depth depends on the type of soil. For clayey ones - 2.5 cm, for light sandy ones - about 5 cm.
Seed sowing rate – 2 g per 1 sq. m. They begin to germinate at a temperature of +2C°.
How to care
Rye is unpretentious and grows quickly, without requiring special care.. Immediately after harvesting vegetables and fruits, this green fertilizer is sown on the beds. The crop winters quietly under snow cover and as soon as the snow melts it immediately begins to grow.
After green shoots appear Rye should be watered only on particularly hot days.
If the crop grows in too poor soil, then 1-2 times per season you can fertilize it with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer - nitrophoska, taking 20 g of the drug per 1 sq. m, or mullein infusion. This way the greens will grow better and be juicier.
What to do with green manure
After the rye has grown, it stands decide on methods of mulching the stems of a cereal plant. There are several options for using rye as green manure.
Digging up
Many summer residents are interested in the question of whether it is worth digging up green manure and when is the best time to do it.
In March-April, the area where rye was grown is plowed. This is done as soon as the snow melts, so that a sufficient amount of moisture remains in the ground.
Attention. At least 3-4 weeks must pass between digging up the green manure and planting the main plants, so that the stem and root parts of the rye have time to decompose in the ground and release their beneficial substances to the soil.
Mow and leave on the surface
Another option for use is to mow the plants and leave them at a depth of 2-3 cm. This method is even better, as it allows you to preserve the structure of the rye root system. And natural compost gradually appears on the beds.
Most the optimal moment for mowing rye - it reaches a height of 30 cm. At this time, the cereal is still young, it contains the largest amount of useful substances.
If the rye begins to outgrow, it is also mowed and left on the soil. They dig up the soil later, when new shoots begin to hatch.
Leave green manure until spring without mowing
Experienced farmers It is recommended to mow only spring and summer grass stands, and leave autumn ones until spring. They are needed for snow and moisture retention.
Many gardeners use this method of green manure, as it allows for better soil restoration.
Tips and tricks
Advice from experienced farmers on the use of rye crops:
- Wait until the rye grows and starts to spike. By mowing such shoots, you will prepare nutritious hay for goats and cows for the winter. Thus, not only green fertilizer is obtained, but also complete food for animals.
- Rye straw can be burned to produce ash. This fertilizer is also extremely useful. It has been used for centuries either in dry form for sprinkling plants or in liquid form for feeding vegetable or fruit crops.
Reviews
Many summer residents believe that it is better to sow rye as green manure in the fall. This enriches the beds with nutrient compounds exactly when the soil needs it most.
Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod: “Rye suppresses weed growth until spring, unlike manure. It contains many weed seeds that are not digested by the gastric juice of animals and penetrate into the ground in their original form. You can only get rid of them by composting, and this takes a whole year.”.
Maria, Orel: “Green manure sown in the fall can be quickly incorporated into the ground and provide excellent green fertilizer for future plantings. Plants need about three weeks to partially decompose in the soil.".
Mikhail, Novokuznetsk: “Nematodes and pathogenic microflora practically do not live in the places where rye grows. During the winter, the number of these pests decreases significantly. If, in addition to rye, you also plant mustard, you will get a complete phytosanitary fertilizer.”.
Conclusion
Rye as a green manure plant improves the condition of the soil, making it softer and more moist.It also provides protection against weeds and pests. In many European countries, they are gradually stopping the use of chemicals and mineral fertilizers for growing fruits and vegetables, switching to environmentally friendly ways to increase yields - green manure and bacteria.