Gardeners facing challenges with heavy clay soil, or soil made difficult by wet winters and hot summers, can consider using legumes to improve its condition. Crops such as vetch, field beans, and forage peas are effective allies for organic growers.
These plants are capable of taking nitrogen from the air and storing it in their bodies, which is then released for use by future plants. Sown in autumn, their roots will grow deep into the soil during the colder months.
In spring, before they flower, these legumes can be cut down at the base. Their root systems will then decompose in the ground, enhancing the soil's structure and its ability to retain and dispense with water.