Nitrogen fixers - Nitrogen Fixing Plants

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by Marika, Feb 11, 2003.

  1. Marika

    Marika Junior Member

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    Hi all, I am just about to plant my first ever green manure crop. I have some peas to plant, which I know will be ideal, but I also have some beans. . .A question, are beans part of any of the (at least) 4 nitrogen fixing plant families?

    The families are-

    *Mimosaceae
    *Papalonaceae (syn. Fabaceae)
    *Caesalpiniaceae
    *Leguminaceae

    Also, can anyone recomend some more Nitrogen fixers, either short term or long term, suitable for a Melbourne climate?

    I have heard of Tagasaste, a tree, a N fixer that is nutritious cow fodder, is drought & frost resistant & suitable for a cool temperate climate. I have not yet found out where to get it..or about any other permaculture plant stockists near Melb, anyone know?

    Don't worry, I don't only just ask questions, I will be researching this all myself too & will post it up if I find out before or more than u!!!

    Cheers
    Passionate student :;):

    Marika
     
  2. Mont

    Mont Junior Member

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    G'day Marika! Tagasaste seems to get a good run in Bill Mollison's books for its advantages. You just might want to suss what it's disadvantages could be before you go into it. The biologist Tim Low in his book 'Feral Future' takes Bill to task about various plants that Low says are weeds in Australia, including mesquite and honey locust. He doesn't say much about tagasaste except that it originates in the Canary Islands and is a 'rampant plant'. Maybe the appropriate government department can tell you if it has the status of a weed in Victoria, and if so why.

    Mont
     
  3. Jeff Nugent

    Jeff Nugent Junior Member

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    Hi Marika,
    Yes beans are nitrogen fixers, if in combination with the right root associates.
    Tagasaste will do great around Melbourne. The fresh young shoots, before they turn woody makes the best feed and green manure. Maintain them as bushes (not george w) by constant pruning. Why not keep a few rabbits or guinea pig and feed the tagasate to them. They produce heaps of good manure and protein as well.
    Email me your postal and I'll send you some tagasaste seed.
    [email:39jhqgjf][email protected][/email:39jhqgjf]
    Lupins are a great winter (if you ever get winter in Melbourne?) growing green manure. I favour the blue ones here because the kangaroos don't eat them but in urbia the white ones can be used to make tofu, tempeh, etc.
    Broad beans are another.
     
  4. Jeff Nugent

    Jeff Nugent Junior Member

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    Tim lowe has done somewhat of a turn around in his new book the New Nature. Surprise, surprise it seems as though all plants contribute to an ecosystem. The native honeyeaters on our tagasaste trees have known that for years. Tagasaste flowers at a time when not much else does in our region.
    Yes Tagasaste is a weed. It is a true pioneer, an invader of damaged landscape. By far one of my favourite plants. It grows in highland tropics too.
     

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