How effective are home-made remedies?

Marc Iverson wrote:How about planting some of the cover crop mustards like the kind they have at Territorial Seed?  Tilled into the soil once it has grown for a while, it leaches and outgasses its natural chemicals into the soil, which the grower and Territorial refer to as a sort of entirely natural fumigation.  Left on top of the soil, that kind of mustard fumigates less, but it can act as a mulch and still suppress some of the bad guys.  It can also get tall enough to both shade out some weeds and produce a lot of green manure/mulch.

camprn wrote:

Marc Iverson wrote:How about planting some of the cover crop mustards like the kind they have at Territorial Seed?  Tilled into the soil once it has grown for a while, it leaches and outgasses its natural chemicals into the soil, which the grower and Territorial refer to as a sort of entirely natural fumigation.  Left on top of the soil, that kind of mustard fumigates less, but it can act as a mulch and still suppress some of the bad guys.  It can also get tall enough to both shade out some weeds and produce a lot of green manure/mulch.

Does it have a target to fumigate? What is it? Is it broad spectrum?

Kodiak (Brassica juncea): Suppresses soilborne fungal pathogens and nematodes, produces more biomass than other varieties

Pacific Gold (Brassica juncea): Reduces soilborne fungal pathogens and nematodes

IdaGold (Sinapis alba): Suppresses weeds

Why are there three varieties of Mighty Mustard®?

Kodiak, IdaGold and Pacific Gold all contain very different glucosinolates. IdaGold glucosinolates work to suppress weeds. Kodiak and Pacific Gold glucosinolates are biologically active against insects, some nematodes and fungal pathogens, such as sclerotinia and Verticilium wilt.

Mighty Mustard Kodiak Cover Crop

NEW! Brassica juncea 80-90 days. This unique plant can be used as both a green manure and a natural soil fumigant to fight nematodes. An organic alternative to using chemical applications of Methyl Bromide. Columbia basin wheat growers use it to reduce the nematode populations between wheat crops. When worked into the soil, Mighty Mustard Kodiak releases high levels of glucosinolates, a natural chemical agent that makes some brassicas spicy. When soil pests come into contact with the decaying matter and the fumes of decomposition, they are unable to complete their lifecycle. For use as a fumigant, mow down and work into the soil immediately. As a fast growing cover crop, Mighty Mustard Kodiak can produce 4-5 tons of organic matter from 6 foot tall plants in just 80-90 days. To utilize as a cover crop, mow and leave it on the ground to dry down before working into the soil. Not only does this mustard recycle existing nitrogen from its long tap roots, the plant itself has a high protein and nitrogen content and will greatly increase the soil's fertility and tilth. The best practice with cover crop mustard is to mow while in flower and before seed-set to ensure it doesn't reseed itself. Unless of course, you would like to save some seed to create your very own savory Oriental mustard! Sow spring to summer at ¼ pound per 1000 square feet; 6-10 pounds per acre.

"One of the easiest and most economical ways to improve your soil is to plant green manures, commonly called cover crops. Most garden soils can be maintained at their highest level of productivity by sound soil management practices that involve a combination of soil tillage, crop rotation, and most importantly, the addition of organic matter through green manures.
Organic matter is the ''food'' component of soil. Soil-dwelling fungi and bacteria work to break down organic matter. When these soil microorganisms eat organic matter, nutrients are released back into the soil in a form that is usable by plants. This process is called nutrient cycling. Nutrient cycling affects both the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The addition of organic matter builds soil structure, which increases water absorption and nutrient-holding capacity, buffers the soil pH, and improves aeration. Cover crops choke out weeds by restricting sunlight to the soil, stabilize the soil surface, and through their deep-reaching roots, help to break up hardpan and bring minerals to the surface for other plants to utilize. As part of a long-term rotation plan, cover crops can provide for a stable habitat within your garden for beneficial insects and microorganisms.
Green manures can be grown in the same year as a vegetable crop, such as a cover crop of white clover planted around a cole crop. They can also be grown as a perennial in orchards and vineyards. In mild climates (zones 6 and above), cover crops can be fall planted and tilled in the following spring just before planting. In harsher climates, cover crops can be grown in rows between the crops or as a component of rotation in your garden. Green manure crops are a superior source of organic matter when they are cut and turned under. In addition to this benefit, legume green manures (peas, beans, clovers, favas and vetch) act as a host for the bacteria that fix and make nitrogen available for your vegetable or fruit crops.

More and more organic growers and gardeners are discovering the long list of benefits that growing fall planted brassicas such as oilseed radish, mustards, and forage turnips can provide. The rapid fall growth of brassicas supplies a thick ground cover that protects the soil from erosion and helps suppress weeds with a dense amount of biomass. Some brassicas have a large taproot that can break through plow or rototiller pans, thus aerating the soil. The roots also scavenge nutrients from deep in the soil and bring them back to the surface where they can be utilized by your next food crop plantings. Other brassica species release chemical compounds that may be toxic to soil borne pathogens and pests such as nematodes, symphylans, and even some weeds. And if left to flower, brassicas are especially popular with beneficial insects.

Scorpio Rising wrote:Up in Marc's post from September 2014 the link says to mow it down before it sets seed, let it dry and turn it into the soil.  Where is Marc?