Mustard is an annual plant that is widely used as a green soil fertilizer, as well as as a honey and fodder crop. Its value lies in the rapid germination of seeds, in addition, the plant is able to rapidly grow green mass. The article will tell about its properties such as fertilizer, when is it best to plant and how to sow mustard in the fall?
Green manure
Mustard is able to replenish the soil with such beneficial substances as organic and humus. It has unique qualities of absorbing insoluble elements and processing into lighter ones. Mustard is sown for loosening and draining the soil, it perfectly increases its moisture content, its roots can reach a length of up to three meters. And this allows you to protect the earth in the autumn-spring periods from wind and dry erosion.
When can you sow mustard? If this is done in the spring, it is best one month before planting vegetables. Autumn sowing is carried out after harvesting, in some areas this occurs at the end of August, in others at the beginning of September. Mustard, sown after harvest, has excellent sanitary and soil-protective qualities. As for the fertilizer function, this siderat performs it poorly, since the green mass does not have time to grow.
Mustard qualities
Plants have an excellent effect on soil health. The essential oils that accumulate in its stems have an excellent preventive effect against various pests, such as slugs, wireworms, as well as all kinds of fungal infections. Decomposing, the plant improves among the habitats of earthworms and other microorganisms useful to the soil. How to sow mustard in the fall? This is of interest to many gardeners, because proper sowing will provide good fertilizing of the soil, and therefore increase the future crop. Mustard is sown on whole beds, the green mass is left uncut, to retain snow and prevent freezing of the soil.
How to sow mustard
If a plant is sown in order to obtain green fertilizer, then seeds should be taken at the rate of 100-150 grams per hundred square meters of land. The sowing depth is two to three centimeters, and the row spacing is about twenty centimeters. They also practice mustard sowing along with legumes, through a row, this will strengthen the siderate function. Most often, mustard is sown immediately after collecting early vegetables, so that it has time to build green mass and nourish the soil with useful fertilizers before winter. How to sow mustard in the fall? First, they level the earth with a rake, with dry soil, water it and scatter the seeds. Then cover them or slightly drip.
Plant features
Mustard is a rather photophilous plant, prefers moist soils, especially during the period of active growth. This siderate is resistant to cold. Shoots appear at a temperature of +2 degrees, they easily tolerate frost in three to four degrees. “How to sow mustard in the fall?”, You ask, because the cold will come soon. This plant manages to grow a huge green mass before the onset of cold weather.