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Caliente Mustard:
- reduces potato cyst nematodes
- improves soil structure – as a green manure
- suppresses soil disease and weeds – as a biofumigant
green manure
Caliente Mustard produces a naturally occurring biofumigant gas (isothiocyanate (ITC)) when its plant cells are damaged (by crushing or chopping).
This gas suppresses a range of:
- soil-borne diseases, including Verticillium wilt, Rhizoctonia spp., Pythium spp., Fusarium spp., and Sclerotinia spp.
- nematodes (eelworms)
- wireworms
To encourage the production of the biofumigant gas ITC:
- chop the Caliente Mustard plants as finely as possible – the finer the chop the greater the effect. Either, use a rotary mower (such as Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Rotary Lawnmower with 32cm Cutting Width
), a strimmer (like this BLACK+DECKER ST4525-GB Corded Grass Strimmer, 450 W
) or garden shredder (for example Draper 35900 230-Volt 2,400-Watt Garden Shredder
)
- incorporate the chopped mustard into soil immediately, simply digging in the whole crop, un-chopped, will not give the same effect. Mix the shredded vegetation into the top 15cm (6in) of the soil either with a rotovator (like this one Handy 9 inches Width Garden Tiller Cultivator Mantis Deluxe
), or by digging in with a fork
- seal the soil surface, at once, to keep the gases in, using polythene
- the soil temperature should be warm, between 10-15°C (50 – 59°F)
- autumn or late spring incorporations are the most effective
), a strimmer (like this 
) or garden shredder (for example 
)
), or by digging in with a fork
Green Manure:
When the green foliage of the Caliente mustard is chopped and incorporated into the soil, the decomposed organic matter will produce nutrients which will help plants grow. It is a good idea to analyse the soil every so often to see how fertile it is.
To grow Caliente mustard:
- Sow spring to late summer – it will be ready 60 to 90 days after sowing
- To cover areas of bare soil over winter, sow early October (no later than mid-October) & the crop will be ready for incorporation in early to mid spring
- 200g of seed covers approx 120sq.m
- 1kg covers approx 600sq.m
- Caliente mustard is available in this packet of mixed seed, Suttons Seeds 169522 Winter Mix Green Manure Seed
