Siderata for potatoes

Potatoes are not only a vegetable that is firmly entrenched in culinary activity, but also a culture that is in great demand today, which is planted almost on a par with cereals. Summer residents today strive to get the maximum amount of harvest even from the smallest volume or from a small planting area. Thanks to this, they can provide themselves with potatoes for the whole winter and not waste a huge amount of money on the purchase. Some gardeners generally refuse any mineral or chemical fertilizers and fertilizing in favor of a natural and environmentally friendly harvest. But at the same time, not everyone thinks that if you constantly exploit land and soil resources, then the soil becomes poorer, depleted, pathogens can develop in it, and in total all this can lead to incredibly negative consequences. Therefore, it is very important to give something back to the soil, saturate it, improve its quality and fertile characteristics, because this is the only way to conduct a dialogue with nature and receive from it not only a plentiful, but also a very tasty harvest.

There are many ways to maintain soil fertility and saturation. One of them is to use green manure for potatoes, sowing other plants there, which are just intended for this. Potato siderata are plants that are sown before the potato tubers themselves are placed on the plot. Then the siderates are mowed under the potatoes, dug up together with the soil. Plant residues are very useful for the soil, as they decompose, rot, giving away a huge amount of useful and nutritious components. After about 7-10 days after that, you can plant the main crop in the soil and be sure that the soil was saturated with a complete and completely natural fertilizer. Sometimes the siderates in front of the potatoes saturate the soil so much that in the future it is possible not to add any additional mineral or organic components to it, and this also has its advantages, because thanks to this, the gardener can save his time, and also will not harm his future health at all 100% natural harvest.

Siderata for potatoes: what are they for?

When the tubers are just distributed in the soil, they should begin to grow and develop. For this, the tubers really need nitrogen and phosphorus, since it is these elements that affect the development of the tuberous system of the culture. The root system must receive all the necessary nutrients and elements, since the tubers are filling, and they really need all this for development. Phosphorus is also very important for the roots as it influences the formation of a strong immune system in the plant.

One way or another, but not a single component or element can simply be absorbed by potatoes. The green mass should also fully develop, and for this, the potatoes already need nitrogen. Thus, the siderates for potatoes should include a sufficient amount of the nitrogen component, as well as phosphorus, due to which, in principle, all this will be assimilated, and the potatoes themselves will demonstrate active growth and development.Now we are faced with the task of clearly understanding and determining which plants contain all the elements necessary for potatoes, purchase them and sow them on the site before planting the potatoes themselves.

Methods for using green manure for potatoes

Today, gardeners know several basic methods for using green manure for specific crops. In our case, it will be about potatoes. The methods include the following:

• The subsequent use of green manures before potatoes, when the root system of companion crops will serve as the main source of nutrition for the vegetable. That is, the potatoes will be saturated with substances due to the root system of green manure, which will be dug up along with the soil in preparation for planting.
• full use of green manure for potatoes - in this case, both the surface part and the underground part take part in the saturation of the culture to the same extent
• cutting the use of green manures after potatoes - the gardener digs up the freshly cut ground part of the green manure, and the root system remains in the same place, which can also provide comprehensive support to the plant.

In general, much will depend on what nutrients were originally introduced into the field where the potatoes are planted. In this case, the gardener can choose either one method, or several at once, he can alternate them. In any case, siderates for potatoes are natural and completely safe, and therefore they can be used by a gardener as they like, without fear that the main crop (in our case, potatoes) will receive some kind of injury or oversaturation.

Of course, you should immediately understand which siderates for potatoes are the best in order to use them in the future and get the desired effect. Experienced gardeners have pondered, experimented, tried a huge number of green manures for a long time to understand which of them have a beneficial effect on the plant, and which of them have absolutely no sense in planting, since they simply may not give the desired effect. As practice has shown, the best siderates for potatoes are leguminous siderates.

Peas - this is a green manure for potatoes, which is sown at almost the same time as the planting of potato tubers. It emerges much earlier than potatoes, and due to its abundant root system, it can attract more useful and nutritious substances and components. To a particular extent, the root system of peas can attract nitrogen, which plays a very significant role in the development of potatoes, in its growth, in the filling of the tuber and, accordingly, can affect the future harvest.

Alfalfa Is another useful culture. It can play a role not only as green manure, but also as livestock feed. Alfalfa contains a huge amount of useful and nutritious substances and components, so if it is planted on the site, sometimes the potatoes no longer need any additional organic or mineral dressings. Alfalfa can also be very beneficial for the person himself, as it is often used for culinary purposes as fresh and aromatic herbs. This green manure is planted after potatoes around August, then it manages to sprout quickly and does an excellent job with its functions as a plant that can attract and release a huge amount of nutrients.

Lupine - its beans can be a great substitute for soybeans. Greens are used to be eaten by both animals and man himself. Lupine beans contain about 50% protein and 20% oils. The quality of the oil is very similar to olive oil, which is why it is so prized in the culinary business. Another green manure that is good for potatoes is sweet clover. It is considered one of the most effective medicinal plants, which is also a honey plant.Melilot contains a huge amount of nutrients and nutrients and components that are good for pets. At the same time, the growth of sweet clover is very abundant, and in height it can reach up to two meters. It also performs a huge number of a wide variety of functions that are focused on saturating the soil, providing the potatoes with all the components necessary for growth. In addition, as a siderat, sweet clover remains one of the most popular, and it really is.

Vika - green manure, belonging to one of the earliest ripening types of crops. This green manure after potatoes is completely unpretentious and not capricious if we talk about climatic and temperature conditions. Great not only for saturating the soil, but also for feeding animals both in green form and the beans themselves. Usually vetch is used as a green manure for potatoes, which is laid in winter, since during this time the plant fully reveals all its useful and nutritious properties, components, plays a very significant role in the development of tubers and further affects the quality and quantity of the crop.

Siderata for potatoes: photo

If we talk about the principles of action of these plants, then in their effect they resemble manure, which is introduced into the soil. But at the same time, manure needs much more time to decompose in the soil and reveal all its useful substances and components. In addition, manure is an expensive "pleasure" even for those gardeners who do not economize at all on the condition of their site and on its improvement. In this case, siderates for potatoes have more advantages - they are much easier to distribute over the site, they are much cheaper than manure. In addition, green manures in front of potatoes are very versatile, as they can be used not only to saturate the soil, but also for medical, personal, culinary purposes, and so that animals can eat too. In a word, planting green manure is a completely inexpensive, unpretentious occupation, and the benefits can bring several times more than the worries that are associated with the introduction of mineral or organic fertilizers, which also need more time to fully reveal their characteristics.

The benefits of using green manure for potatoes

Siderata for potatoes give a huge amount of benefits to a vegetable, and here's why:

• when potato siderates begin to rot, the activity of soil bacteria is activated in the soil. For them, plant residues from green manure are an excellent food and breeding environment, from which the soil becomes more favorable and more fertile, saturated, attractive so that a wide variety of crops grow in it in the future, and potatoes in this case are no exception.
• green manure in front of potatoes makes the soil more moist due to the fact that they can retain moisture in the soil. At the same time, green manures do not erode from the soil at all, are not washed out by rains and precipitation, which is their stability and significance in horticulture, when compared with other crops
• weeds cannot compete with green manure at all. Siderates have an active growth phase, their root system is more extensive and strong, so the weeds do not have time to take possession of the territory and nutrients, but the siderates concentrate all these substances in themselves, so that after processing or decay, they return them back to the soil and the plant itself - the main crop
• potato green manure contains phytoncide substances. They can be excellent at fighting against garden pests. They become much less both in the soil and on the plants. In general, pests and insects that can harm potatoes very quickly die from siderates, especially if they exude an aroma that paralyzes the insect, it can no longer feed or develop, and as a result, only inevitable death awaits it
• the soil, thanks to the green manure in front of the potatoes, is very actively enriched, the most basic nutrients and components get into it, which have an excellent effect on the growth and development of the crop. Particularly important substances are potassium and nitrogen and, of course, phosphorus. In general, this particular point is one of the most basic, since it is thanks to the siderates that you can increase the yield, increase its amount. At the same time, the gardener does not need to use mineral or organic components at all, since the green manure already contains all the most necessary and useful substances that have an excellent effect on potato growth, tuber formation and future harvest.

When to plant green manure for potatoes: in autumn or spring?

The next question that gardeners ask is when is the best time to plant green manure for potatoes - in the fall or spring. Here it is worth paying attention to the fact that legumes have their own characteristics. One of them is that they can sprout very quickly, and at the same time the green mass also actively increases due to the fact that nitrogen is accumulated in the tissues of the green manure, which has such an effect. This feature can be used by gardeners for their own purposes. For example, sometimes they return green manure plants back to the soil, and they do this so that the soil becomes more saturated and enriched, and so that other crops receive abundant and rich feeding. As a rule, legumes can go through two germination cycles in one summer season.

There are several basic rules for sowing green manure, which are intended directly for potatoes. Among them, we will highlight the following:

• the seeds must be placed in the soil that has been treated. For this, some minerals and components can be added to it in advance. Potato green manure will be able to process it and transfer it into a safe organic fertilizer that will be perfectly absorbed by the potato and perceived as an excellent effective supplement
• in spring, potato green manures are recommended to be planted at the end of March and before the beginning of May. It all depends on what air temperature develops, and what climatic conditions are formed on the site where the potatoes will then be planted. If planting is scheduled for autumn, then it is best to do this about 45 days before the cold snap sets in. In this case, the seedlings should reach a height of 15 centimeters, and at the same time they must have time to decompose in the ground. To do this, green manure for potatoes in the spring needs about 14 days to completely decompose in the soil and give the soil all the useful and nutritious components
• mowing of green manure is carried out even before the seeds are formed in the plant. This is required so that the seeds of the green manure do not fall into the soil again, since there is some peculiarity - in the future, there may be great difficulties in finally removing the green manure from the soil.

With all this, green manure needs to be moistened, so it is necessary to organize watering. Then they will process all the necessary nutrients and components much faster, and at the same time they will be much more beneficial than they could have ever been. The whole point is that useful components and minerals can be located very deep in the soil, and they can be obtained from there only through the organization of active soil moisture. Therefore, if there is a drought, and in general in regions with an arid climate, it is recommended to regularly irrigate and water green manures before planting potato crops, mainly in the spring. Watering should not be stopped exactly until the moment of mowing in order to maintain the tendency of growth and saturation of green manure, only in this case all useful substances and elements will be revealed in them.It is possible to mow green manures for potatoes before planting, either manually or with the help of some mechanical devices in order to save your time and physical strength.

Siderata that are not suitable for potatoes

Certain crops can sometimes also be planted as precursors for potatoes. Among them are oats and wheat, rye. At the same time, they do not have that sufficient amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, which could satiate the potatoes and the soil in which they are located as much as possible. Therefore, in principle, one should not expect any quick effect from grain siderates, and even more so benefit. The same goes for green manures such as phacelia and white mustard, rapeseed, which can also be suitable for lighter crops, but are not at all nutritious and healthy options for saturation and feeding for potatoes.

In general, they can be ideal for some other crops, as they have a good nutritional composition. Therefore, ideally, the above potato siderates can be suitable for tomatoes or cucumbers. If you add them in a larger amount than is usually stated, then the fertilizer will take even longer to take root in the soil, reveal its useful and mineral substances. This may not have a very good effect on the general condition of the soil, and due to the fact that processing takes too long, it can lead to the fact that the grower is late with planting the potatoes. It does not matter which green manure will be used after the grower has harvested the potato crop. In general, these can be absolutely any siderates that can belong to any cultural families and subtypes. But you can pay attention to the individual functions of individual siderates. For example, mustard can perfectly disinfect and disinfect soil, and it also tolerates cold periods and freezing well, so it can perfectly adapt and demonstrate excellent planting results.

In general, in order for the potato tops to show excellent growth, and the tubers at the same time are actively poured, legumes will become the best siderates for this potato. It is best to sow them immediately into the prepared soil, because thanks to this they will germinate much faster. If the gardener has decided to plant green manure for potatoes in the fall, after the potato crop has been harvested, absolutely any crop can be used. They can have a greater effect on soil fertility than on the growth of potato tubers and, accordingly, on the yield. In principle, all this also depends on weather conditions, on the condition of the soil in the planting area, and on the personal preferences of the gardeners themselves in what result they would like to achieve in planting green manures for potatoes and in their further distribution.

Siderata for potatoes: video