The Phacelia is also known under the names tufted flower and bee friend. Since this perennial flowering plant is not related to any other cultivated plants, it can easily be integrated into all possible crop rotations as a cover seed.
Why is Phacelia suitable as green manure?
Phacelia is ideal as a green manure because it binds nitrogen in the soil, forms humus, strengthens the subsoil, loosens compacted soil, attracts bees and suppresses weeds. The most effective way is to mow down before flowering and work it into the soil.
What green manure is all about
The name green manure actually does not adequately describe the actual processes involved in using certain plant species as cover crops. Although nitrogen is sometimes bound and stored in the soil, there are also completely different side effects of planting green manure plants. For example, a cover seed like Phacelia produces:
- the soil enriched with humus
- the subsurface is secured and protected from silting up
- compacted soil effectively loosened
- A traditional plant for bees offered
- possible weed growth on fallow land suppressed
Growing Phacelia as green manure
In recent years, the so-called “bee friend” (Phacelia) has become the focus of public interest, primarily due to the high nectar production in the many individual flowers. At the same time, the herbaceous plants, which grow up to one meter high, also represent a very pretty element in perennial beds or on slopes that are difficult to plant. The white to light blue and violet-blue petals of the flowers can be used effectively to create color contrasts with other garden plants. To sow the seeds, which are comparatively cheap to obtain, the selected area in the flower or vegetable bed is simply cleared of other growth and lightly raked. The seeds are easily incorporated into the soil and should be kept evenly moist during the germination period.
The timing is crucial
When using Phacelia as green manure, there may be a certain conflict of interest with its use as a bee pasture. This is because the nitrogen content of these plants, which grow very quickly, decreases steadily until flowering. You will get the best effect on enriching the soil with nitrogen if you roughly mow down the bee friend before flowering and work it directly into the soil after the leaf mass has dried.
Tip
Various plant species from the green manure sector can be combined in the garden to create a veritable palette of colors with rapid growth. To do this, simply mix green manure varieties such as Bee Friend with yellow mustard, marigolds and lupins on the areas to be greened.
