Green Manure Mustard, Brown

Green Manure Mustard, Brown

Brown Mustard grows every bit as fast as its white cousin but is best known for its biofumigant properties. As it comes into flower, its tissues are rich in glucosinolate compounds which, when the plant is chopped and worked into the soil while still fresh, break down and act as a natural biofumigant, helping to suppress soil-borne pests such as nematodes.

This makes it a particularly useful green manure to grow ahead of a potato crop or other pest-susceptible vegetables, and it's the same species used as the dominant component of biofumigation cover crop blends.

Beyond the pest-suppressing benefit, it also produces a good bulk of leafy growth in a short space of time, smothering weeds along the way. Sow from spring through to early autumn and dig in fresh at first flower for the best effect.

Common Questions

How does Green Manure Brown Mustard work as a biofumigant? As the plant flowers, its tissues contain glucosinolate compounds that are released as it's chopped and incorporated fresh into the soil, helping to naturally suppress soil-borne pests such as nematodes.

When is the best time to dig in Brown Mustard for biofumigation? Chop and incorporate the crop just as it comes into flower, working it into the soil while the plant material is still fresh for the strongest effect.

What crops benefit most from a Brown Mustard green manure ahead of them? It's particularly well suited to preceding potatoes and other crops prone to soil-borne nematode problems, thanks to its natural biofumigant action.