Gardening and DIY: Green manure (and bonus beans!)

Photo / Paul Thompson

Sow green manure and get bonus beans

Soil that's been home to hungry feeders like tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins and tomatoes may be tired and lacking in nutrients as the garden heads into autumn and winter.

Now is a good time to sow some green manure that will nourish starved soil with nitrogen, prevent soil erosion caused by heavy rain and suppress weeds. A range of plants can be used - vetches, buckwheat, rye, blue lupin, broad bean and phacelia.

The general idea is that you mass sow your plant of choice across a bed, border or general area and leave them to grow through autumn and winter before you dig the spent stems and roots back into the soil as a boost to get your plantings going in early spring.

If you choose to plant broad beans then you'll also get a bonus harvest of beans - which is great for broad bean lovers. Sow according to packet instructions.

Your questions answered (submit questions to Paul in comments below or on our facebook)

Q: Paul! I am having a heck of a time with my Spinach currently. Any tips on types that suit NZ soil and weather? Should it be picked at the base of the leaf or base of the stem?

A: Spinach is a hungry feeder so soil should be enriched with well-rotted horse manure, compost, sheep pellets or chopped up seaweed.

If you can, plant it where you previously grew peas or beans (these fix nitrogen back into the soil).

Ideally spinach should be given a sunny spot - although it can handle partial shade. It grows best in a bed or open ground but you can grow it in a pot as long as it's reasonably large.

Perpetual spinach is most often grown through winter - even though it is actually a beet and not really spinach at all.

You can pick individual leaves from around the outside of a plant as it continues to produce fresh new growth from the middle. Take as much of the stem as you can because this can be eaten too, cut or tear stems rather than pulling or you may dislodge roots. Alternatively you can cut all the way across a plant at about a thumb's height from the ground and use all the leaves.

As long as you leave this small amount of growth on the crown of your plant it will regenerate and produce more leaves over the following weeks.

Gardeners on the go:
Break up compacted soil as the rain softens it - may take a few goes to get it into shape
Keep birds interested in your garden by leaving some fruit on trees and shrubs as well as allowing few plants to develop seed heads post harvest
Plant brassica seedlings

For full-scale, seasonal edible gardening advice and inspiration see www.podgardening.co.nz or check out Pod Gardening on facebook.