These 6 plants are givers, returning nutrients and organic matter to the soil to increase fertility without the use of chemicals.
1. Peas.
Peas accumulate nitrogen and produce a significant amount of biomass. It's a great crop to proceed tomatoes, onions, cucurbits, celery, and most anything else that isn't a legume in a crop rotation plan.
2. Nettles
Nettle is a favorite crop of many organic and biodynamic gardeners because of its highly desirable properties. It decomposes quickly and heats up quickly, making it an excellent addition to compost pile.
3. Comfrey
Comfrey roots can mine minerals up to 10 feet underground, allowing the plant to be used to enrich the soil or break up compaction. For added nitrogen and organic matter, brew into a compost tea or simply lay on the surface of beds.
4. Vetch.
Vetch can be planted as a cover crop and then incorporated into the soil. It excels at nitrogen capture and provides an added benefit when combined with rye.
5. Alfalfa.
Alfalfa is a legume typically thought of as a high-protein feed for livestock, but can also be a high-protein feed for the garden. The grass can be cut and added to compost or dried and spread across the garden to be eaten by the soil microbes on their own time.
6. Buckwheat.
Buckwheat is extremely fast-growing and can outrun almost any summer weed. If left to flower, it will attract beneficial insects to pollinate your garden and increase its fertility.
