Catch crops – the secret weapon of your garden for soil health and weed control

Are you tired of the constant struggle with weeds and soil problems in your garden? Catch cultures can be the solution you’ve been looking for! These specially selected plants are sown in the beds between the main crops or after they are harvested, providing a number of benefits for soil health and the general well-being of the garden.

How do catch crops help?

• Improving soil structure: The roots of catch crops break down the compacted soil, improving its aeration and water absorption. It promotes the activity of beneficial soil organisms, which, in turn, feeds the main crops.
• Increasing nutrient availability: Some catch crops, such as leguminous plants, bind nitrogen from the air, making it available to plants. Others, with deep-penetrating roots, can lift nutrients from the lower layers of the soil to the surface.
• Weed control: Densely growing catch crops suffocate weed growth, reducing the need for manual weeding or herbicides.
• Pest and disease control: Catch crops can attract beneficial insects that feed on pests. They can also interrupt the life cycle of pathogens, providing them with an unsuitable environment.
• Reducing soil erosion: Catch crops cover the soil, protecting it from wind and rain, which can lead to erosion and nutrient loss.

Which catch crops to choose?

The choice of catch crops depends on the needs of your garden and the growing conditions of the main crops. Popular options include:

• Leguminous plants (e.g. clover, alfalfa, field bean): Bind nitrogen, improve soil structure.
• Cruciferous plants (e.g., mustard, oilseeds): Repels pests and diseases, cleaves compacted soil.
• Grasses (e.g. rye, oats): Cover the soil, reduce erosion, provide organic matter.
• Other: Faceelia (whirlwind), calendula, buckwheat and many others with different beneficial properties.

How to use catch cultures?

Sow catch crops in the beds after harvesting the main crop or between them if there is enough space. Let them grow up to a few weeks before planting the next main crop. Then cut off the catch crops and leave them as mulch or dig them into the soil to enrich the soil with organic matter.

Try catch crops and discover their charm!

Catch crops are a simple and effective way to improve soil health, reduce weed problems, and create a balanced and sustainable ecosystem in your garden. Experiment with different catch crops and find the ones that best suit the needs of your garden. Your plants and soil will thank you!