Variétés à semer en août

Mustard's rapid growth is one of the qualities that makes it an excellent green manure, but it's not the only one! Under good conditions, mustard seedlings can reach their full height in just one month. It can therefore be used as a green manure in spring and summer.

• Its deep roots excel at loosening heavy soils and its aerial parts buried in the soil provide the latter with a first-rate supply of nitrogen.
• When buried during full flowering, its role as a nematicide should not be neglected either, especially on a plot where potatoes have been grown.
• Because it grows very quickly and is not afraid of root competition, it covers the soil immediately and protects it from erosion . For faster decomposition, it is buried when young and still tender.
• If you want to attract pollinators with its pretty, bright yellow flowers, allow more time for decomposition in the soil, as it will be less tender. However, do this before the seeds ripen if you don't want it to self-seed readily!
• It can be sown until the end of August , as it tolerates frost .
• As winter approaches, instead of burying it, leave its cut stems on the surface to provide soil life with a protective cover against erosion and cold.
• In spring, earthworms will be encouraged to come to the surface to collect them, aerating the soil in the process. Furthermore, by acting as mulch , they will reduce weed growth.
• Sowing technique : broadcast, followed by a pass with a rake to lightly bury the seeds.
• Seeding rate: 300 g/60 ^m² – 0.6 lb/600 sq ^ft
• Sowing depth : 0.5 to 1 cm.
• Photo credit: Amit Kumar
• Format: 300 g

Native to Asia, the Shunkyo radish belongs to those Asian varieties that have naturally found their place in the organic vegetable garden thanks to their remarkable vigor. Its elongated roots, ranging from pink to bright red with crisp white flesh, evoke the freshness of early spring sowings and the sweetness of autumn harvests. In favorable soil, it grows quickly and produces uniform roots that are easy to harvest as needed in the kitchen.

In the garden, it's a small, benevolent presence in the cycle of the seasons: a short, simple crop that quickly gives way to other companions in the vegetable patch. Its delicate foliage can also contribute, on a small scale, to ground cover and nourish the biodiversity of the living garden. Integrated into a respectful cultivation approach, the Shunkyo radish becomes a trusted plant, ideal for observing, understanding, and taking action within the intimacy of the food garden.

Native to Japan, Red Mizuna is a brassica that captivates with its finely cut leaves, tinged with dark purple. Born from a refined agricultural tradition, it has long been cultivated in the pure waters of Kyoto, where its name "mizuna" — meaning "water-vegetable" — testifies to its connection with humid and nurturing gardens.

In the garden, it thrives from the first cool days of spring and returns vigorously at the end of summer, thus avoiding the intense heat that would trigger it to go to seed. With its bushy habit, rapid growth, and high cold tolerance (down to -12°C), it stands out as a reliable, simple, and generous plant. It allows for staggered harvests, perfect for extending the green season in harmony with the garden's gentle rhythm.

Oats are a grass well-adapted to cold conditions and grow in all types of soil. Like other grasses, they effectively suppress weeds, which struggle to establish themselves. Their deep roots improve soil structure and water penetration, in addition to providing a valuable source of organic matter.

Find a retailer near you .

• Oats are a fast-growing cereal that thrives in all types of soil. Germination takes place between 5 and 14 days.
• It can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked in April and until the beginning of September in soil between 1 and 24 °C.
• It is sown broadcast and the plants are turned back into the soil as green manure after 30 to 65 days.
• It is well adapted to cold conditions, but does not survive the winter.
• Seeding rate: 2 kg/100 ^m² – 4 lb/1000 sq ^ft

Native to East Asia, the Prize pak choi is a variety of Chinese cabbage known for its rapid growth and hardiness in the garden. This plant is distinguished by its large, slightly wavy, light green leaves, whose crisp texture delights the palate in cooking.

In the garden, the Prize pak choi stands out as a compact and easy-to-grow vegetable, particularly appreciated in organic vegetable gardens where it fits easily into short crop rotations. Its earliness makes it a valuable ally for short growing seasons, especially in cool temperate climates like that of Quebec.

This variety lends itself to culinary diversity, offering delicious salads, stir-fries, or soups with a mild and fresh flavor. Prize pak choi is also a generous plant that adds a touch of greenery to the edges of cultivated fields, contributing to soil health and the balance of neighboring plants.

Originating from the spring radish family, the Hailstone radish is distinguished by its round, bright white root, which seems to blend in with the light pebbles of healthy soil. In a vegetable garden, it offers a simple yet effective presence: a small rosette of leaves close to the ground, then very quickly, roots ready to be eaten.

In the cycle of the seasons, this variety is a boon to gardeners eager to taste the first harvests. Planted in suitable soil, it grows remarkably consistently, without requiring much, provided it receives regular watering and well-drained soil. Its rapid growth allows it to fill the gaps between rows in a suitable vegetable garden, until other plants take over.

With its rapid growth, Hailstone fits perfectly into an approach to sustainable gardening: it is sown, watched grow almost daily, and harvested young, leaving the soil available for a new crop. A small, reliable plant that simply contributes to the harmonious life of a garden.

The Scarlet Ohno Revival turnip is an old variety brought back into fashion through the patient work of breeders dedicated to preserving food diversity. Its round, white roots with a pink to purplish-red collar add a bright and cheerful touch to the intimacy of the garden, between two rows of lettuce or cabbage.

In a thriving garden , this turnip is prized for its rapid growth and tender flesh, ideal for young roots. It plays a part in the cycle of the seasons , offering spring and autumn harvests when the soil becomes welcoming again after the cold or begins to cool down after the summer heat. Its discreet yet reliable presence makes it a truly dependable plant for enriching the vegetable garden's growing areas.

A versatile mix that can be used in your vegetable garden or on a larger area (fields).

• Contains various green manures to revitalize your soil.
• Use at the beginning of the season, following a crop or in the fall.
• Competes with unwanted weeds.
• Improves soil structure with a significant supply of organic matter and humus.
• Deep roots that aerate and limit erosion.
• Revitalizes the soil while promoting beneficial root biology.

Coverage for new sowing: 5 kg covers 760 ^m² / 8180 sq ^ft

Native to Europe, wild chicory Palla Rossa is distinguished by its deep red foliage, which intrigues the eye and delights the gardener. Traditionally used for its young leaves in salads or cooked dishes, it embodies the perfect blend of hardiness and delicacy.

In the garden, this robust variety thrives easily in light soil and provides a beautiful, colorful presence in borders or vegetable beds. Its slightly bitter flavor and hardy nature make it a valued companion plant, bringing diversity and vitality to the vegetable garden while attracting beneficial insects.

When grown as a green manure, rye effectively prevents leaching, protects the soil from wind and water erosion, and improves soil structure. It can be sown on any available plot. However, the Guide to Comprehensive Management of Organic and Diversified Market Gardens* cautions against sowing too soon after the rye has been destroyed: “Based on field observations, rye destroyed in the spring appears to have an allelopathic effect on corn. It is therefore highly likely that this effect also exists for certain vegetables.”

* Guide to the overall management of organic and diversified market garden farms by Bio-Action, Équiterre 2009

• Rye has an impressive fibrous root system.
• This biennial variety survives the rigors of winter and uses soil moisture early in spring for rapid growth.
• The seeds are sown broadcast on any free plot from the beginning of September to the end of October and germinate in 3 to 6 days (soil temperature between 1 and 20 °C).
• The young plants are buried the following spring, 2 to 3 weeks before the establishment of vegetable crops.
• Burying them is more difficult when they are cut down at full maturity.
• Seeding rate: 2 kg/100 ^m² – 4 lb/1000 sq ^ft

Developed through careful selection for its robustness, this head lettuce is distinguished by its compact, uniform head and crisp, bright green leaves. Pablo is a reliable variety that naturally finds its place in gardens committed to sustainable practices, offering easy cultivation.

In the garden, it proves generous and consistent. Resistant to bolting and unpredictable weather, it flexibly supports successive sowings throughout the growing season. Its dense, slightly open habit promotes healthy, airy growth. A valuable ally for self-sufficient, edible gardens.