Boost your nitrogen levels naturally!

When the green bean plants are done producing and are not diseased, resist the urge to pull them. Instead, cut them down at soil level. The green bean plant is what we call a “nitrogen fixer”, which means like other legumes, beans have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the nodules on their root system, which boost nitrogen levels in the soil. The crops you grow in this area in the following year will reap the benefits. Free no-dig garden amendment practice! With no disturbance of the soil structure, all of your little worms and beneficial insects can simply carry on. Hopefully your beans have produced nitrogenous root nodules which will be available to subsequent plantings. In Spring any remaining rotted stems can be removed. You may not want to plant beans on the same spot for the next season. Choose a different spot in the garden and spread a little more nitrogen-fixing bacteria elsewhere for other successive plantings. If you plan to plant following the cutting of the bean plants, the decaying roots do not interfere with new growth. Just part the soil and plant as usual allowing the roots to continue to compost in place.

If you’re not going to plant the bed immediately (ex: if you’re hunkering down for a frigid Minnesota winter) you can chop the above ground parts of the plant and lay them on the soil surface as a mulch, which also provides safe habitat for your overwintering beneficial insects/eggs. If you prefer a cleaner look, you can compost the above ground parts of the plant, or feed them to your farm friends and apply mulch. Simply put, in nature, when a plant dies, there’s nobody to come along and yank it out of the ground, roots and all. Instead, the roots are slowly decomposed by soil microbes deep underground.

Worms, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms all nibble away, ultimately converting the dead roots back into nutrients available for other living plants. And the cycle repeats. In the process, soil organic matter, soil carbon, and overall soil structure are all improved. Isn’t the garden amazing?!

For more information on how the soil food web works, click here or have a gander (go ahead, GEEK OUT!) at the image below. Nature is so cool, really.

Blessings on your garden plans,

Karin

Karin