Whether in the allotment garden or on the balcony – many hobby gardeners buy new earth in spring and summer. After all, this is the basis for healthy and profitable plants. But how do you choose the right substrate? Which earth is particularly environmentally friendly? And can you make them yourself?
Deep red tomatoes, plate -sized broccoli, taste -intensive cucumbers – good earth makes it possible. It protects against diseases by microorganisms and gives the plant a safe stand. In the best case, the earth stores plenty of nutrients and water and releases it to the plant if necessary.
It depends on earth
Above all, the quality and composition of the earth decides on the good growth of the plants: substrates with high sand content absorb little water and nutrients, but are easy. They are popular with carrots and potatoes. Floor floors store water and nutrients well, but are usually too compact for the development of the roots. Many plants therefore thrive best on a floor with a balanced sand and clay content.
The decisive factor is also the humus content. These dead organic substances contain a particularly large number of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They help with growth of drives, leaves, flowers, fruits, roots and strengths the plant tissue. Humus -rich earth can be seen from the smell of forest and a dark color.
But not all plants have the same demands on the ground. Small and delicate plants need fine soil, large powerful plants tolerate large substrates with larger particles. There are also differences in the pH value. Earth with a low pH (4 to 5) is suitable for azaleas, rhododendrons, camellia, and coniferous woods, potatoes and berries. Other types of vegetables prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It is therefore advisable to research the needs of the respective plant in advance and to select or mix the earth appropriately.
More climate protection through peat -free earth
Many people buy peat -based earth for their own cultivation. According to the NABU environmental protection organization, hobby gardeners consume around 2.5 million cubic meters of peat every year – this corresponds to a quarter of the entire German peat consumption. The peat layer is created from dead plant residues in bogs. Manufacturers dry bogs dry to use the peat as a neutral basis for plant substrates. As a result, important habitats are lost, for example for birds such as the golden pastry, butterflies such as high bogs and plants such as the carnivorous sundew. Moore also bind about 700 tons of carbon per hectare – six times as much as forest. The breakdown of peat releases climate -damaging carbon dioxide.
In order to protect the climate and biodiversity, the Federal Environment Agency therefore recommends products with the labeling “Torfrei” or “without a peat”. As a replacement, the manufacturers use rind humus, wood and coconut fibers. However, these fabrics only grow up slowly. The BUND for the environment and nature conservation Germany therefore advises compost as a gate replacement. The product of rotted waste not only has a high nutrient concentration, but also good water stops. The purchase of regional and bio -certified compost is particularly sustainable.
The right earth for every purpose
Most vegetables do not need a special floor, but feel comfortable in ordinary compost. For cultivation in the garden, delivery from the local composting plant and a separate compost heap are therefore worthwhile. When buying the earth in the garden center or hardware store, consumers should make sure that it smells pleasantly and is not too wet or dry.
Hobby gardeners with specialists can facilitate the cultivation of sensitive plants. This is adapted to a certain crop and sterilized. Specialists are usually significantly more expensive than universal states and are therefore only worthwhile for sensitive plants with special requirements such as rhododendron and blue hydrangeas. Since the sufficient supply of enough raw materials when planting tubs on the balcony is a challenge, a specialty can also make sense here. The purchase of growing earth also pays off. It can help young plants develop long roots because it is germ -free, low -nutrient and light.
Mix earth itself
For herbs, tomatoes and citrus fruits, on the other hand, you can easily produce the earth you need with additives yourself. For the latter, the potting soil is added. Herbs like parsley like moist earth. The addition of toning flour is suitable for them, while you should mix sand with the universal area for rosemary, sage and thyme. You do not need any special stations for tomatoes either, but can give horn shavings or dried nettles as fertilizer to the normal earth.
Universal jes can be mixed with inexpensive. In this way you better know about the ingredients. The nature conservation organization NABU recommends the following mixture for the production of teaspyer planters: 30 liters of garden soil, 20 liters of compost made of green waste, five liters of clay and some stone flour (finely ground lava stone). Excited earth from the previous year can be mixed with new ones and thus becomes fruitful again.
Store earth properly
Whether bought or mixed yourself – the right storage is important: you should keep plant soil dry, cool and protected from direct sun. If it becomes wet, mold may occur, it dries out, the earth loses its structure.
