It’s August, and the garden has worked hard all summer. We have had unbearable heat and humidity here in North Georgia. I’ve replanted squash and green beans for a late harvest, but my cucumbers and first squash plants have been harvested and are ready to be removed from the garden. They are both heavy feeders and will deplete nutrients from the soil. An inexpensive and natural way to add nutrients back to your soil is by using cover crops.
What’s the best way to add nutrients to your garden naturally?
An inexpensive and natural way to add nutrients back to your soil is by using cover crops. Last fall I planted a cover crop mix that included grains, grasses, and legumes. It overwintered and I turned it back into the soil in late February.
You can watch my You-tube video here and see how it quickly covered my raised beds.
This year I am trying something new. I am using white mustard greens. They mature quickly and in late fall, I’ll chop the leaves, and mix them back into the soil. They’ll add lots of nutrients to the soil as well as kill nematodes, help get rid of bad fungi, and quickly add lots of nutrients to the soil.
One of the things I teach in my gardening classes, is to never leave soil bare. Cover crops are a great way to cover your soil, keeping down weeds, and stopping soil erosion.
White mustard greens have a yellow flower that smells like vanilla. It will attract pollinators to the garden, and is a great food source in the fall when your summer vegetable flowers are gone.
Can you eat mustard greens?
Yes, harvest when the leaves are young and tender and BEFORE they flower. The dark, leafy vegetable is packed with nutrition, providing you with Vitamin K, A, and C. They are low in calories, and a good source of fiber.
If you can’t find the white mustard greens at your local nursery, you can plant other varieties that are for your zone. They will also “bolt” and flower in warm weather.
Have you been wanting to grow your own vegetable garden, but wonder how the heck to make it happen? Imagine your garden fairy godmother coming in to wave her magic trowel to help you plan your garden. I would love to have a zoom conference with you, discuss your garden goals, and put together a plan to have you growing your best garden ever, one step at a time.
Schedule your 30 minute zoom conference at www.GrowingwithGardenchick.com. Click on the virtual consult and you will be sent to my calendar. Choose an available date and time. I can’t wait to meet you!
Karen