This is green manure also known as buckwheat, my husband plants it each year in the part of the garden that does not have vegetables, with this summer like weather we have been having it is still going strong, when you walk by it you can hear the hum of bugs, the blooms are covered with various little bees etc. In the spring it gets rototilled into the ground.
16 comments:
I have never heard of this practice. So, it is planted late enough that it doesn't produce seeds... Is it a legume? That adds nitrogen to the soil?
One day I will do this too one of my empty bed in the summer. I thought about getting some Annual Rye grass and planting it this fall.
best looking pile of manure i have ever seen.
irena
I have always wanted to try buckwheat as a cover crop, so am glad to see a photo of it. I didn't realize it was so pretty!
We do the same in Germany, green manure ist very good in new borders or in Autumn like you make it. Can you tell me the botanical name of your plants? Our green manure is a legume blooming in blue colour.
Wurzerl
Is this to provide nitrogen? Years ago, my dad grew rye just for that purpose, then plowed it under and planted the normal crops, which greatly benefited from the rich soil.
Aiyana
I makes exactly the same,it is very
good for the soil.(LUPINE)
Thanks for visiting on my blog and
your sweet comment.
Have a nice day Regina
I like the look of the buckwheat. Smart idea for adding nutrients to your soil.
I love that you call it Green Manure...lovely pic's..
Cat
the buckwheat almost looks like some wild plants if you only had several planted in a discreet spot instead of a whole field. Do you harvest the groats or make buckwheat pillows (filling) out of the hulls?
The buckwheat is used solely as a soil enhancement, it doesn't produce hulls because it is planted later in the season. Most years it is dead by now but with the warm weather we have been having it is still going strong.
What a gorgeous cover crop - I had no idea buckwheat looked so pretty.
Thats a great idea! Legumes too are very good for this purpose as they replenish the nitrogen content of the soil.
If you have the room try laying straw on top of the buckwheat instead of tilling it in. I have done this with great results in building our crappy soil conditions. The buckwheat has a huge roots system that really opens the hard clay here. I've read that it will even break hardpan but I hope i won't have to dig that deep around the garden anymore.
I want to plant buckwheat too - I have a large patch that WAS the garbage dump from the past owners ... I want to cut down all the junk and plant buckwheat there in the spring (or throw it on the ground this fall and see if it comes up in the spring) ... The ground is clay and too hard to rototill.
Lovely picture - I have never seen it before!
lovely, wow, are those wild turkeys on your land? how fun. I have come across some on hiking trails and got so startled... they are huge and loud
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