Mustard Greens for Organic Potatoes
by Marilyn Pokorney
Description: Why you should plant mustard greens next to the potatoes you are growing in your garden.
Mustard greens naturally fight fungual diseases which plague
potatoes.
And...they are very easy to grow and can also be
eaten.
Potatoes are very susceptible to fungal diseases. One
fungus is called Rhizoctonia solani.
Black scurf is one disease and it causes dark brown to black
hard masses on the surface of the forming potato. It
doesn't penetrate into the potato but if the potato is used
for seed the next season the disease can be carried on.
Stem canker is another disease caused by the fungus. It
occurs underground and attacks the germinating sprouts and
stems. When this happens the crop will produce weakened
plants and uneven stands of plants.
Rhizoctonia diseases are started either by infected seed
potatoes or the soil or from plant residue which is already
infected from a previous year.
There are many other friendly microbes in the soil and
Rhizoctonia doesn't exist well with the carbon dioxide being
formed by the decomposition of other plant residue.
Studies being done at Michigan State University are showing
that mustard residues release cyanide-containing compounds
that fumigate the soil to destroy the fungus while at the
same time releasing carbon and nutrients for good soil
microbes that can outwit the fungus.
Studies show that the growth of the fungus was slowed by 90
percent in fields where mustard was grown as a cover crop as
compared to fields without the mustard.
Mustard can be easily grown in the home garden. Make rows
eight inches apart. Plant seeds about half an inch deep and
one inch apart. Thin the seedlings to six inches apart when
they are three to four inches tall.
Keep the seeds moist and water as necessary.
The greens may be harvested at any time for eating or they
may be left in the garden as a cover crop for a potato
planting bed the next year.
For more on mustard greens visit:
http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/mustardgreens.htm
Marilyn Pokorney is a freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment. She also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
