5d • General discussion.
​🌱 The Secret to "Free" Fertilizer: How to Grow Your Own Nitrogen
​Hey Unbound Nest family! I want to share a foundational gardening concept today that has completely changed the way I grow over the last 25+ years.
​If you want your garden to truly thrive, you have to talk about nitrogen. Plants absolutely need it to build the proteins, enzymes, and DNA required for carbon-based life to flourish. The problem? Most soils are naturally low in nitrogen, or it gets depleted season after season.
​Nitrogen exists all around us in the air, but plants can’t use it directly. This is where a little bit of nature’s magic comes in: Nitrogen-Fixing Plants.
​These specific plants form special nodules on their roots—they look like little grape-like clusters. Inside these nodules live beneficial microbes that pull atmospheric nitrogen straight out of the air and convert it into a form your plants can use immediately. At the same time, they boost the diversity and density of your soil life.
​Sure, adding leaves and mulch is great, and rain can deposit some nitrogen, but those sources can be inconsistent and often don't provide enough of a boost early in the season. Nitrogen-fixers actively feed your soil and your plants simultaneously, creating a reliable, natural fertility loop that lasts long-term.
​The best part? You don't have to sacrifice garden space for them. Here are 5 nitrogen-fixing plants you can grow that will feed your soil while also putting food on your table:
​Peas (Snap, Snow, or Shelling): A fantastic cool-weather crop to start your spring season off right.
​Beans (Bush or Pole): Incredibly easy to grow, prolific producers, and fantastic at enriching the soil around them.
​Fava Beans (Broad Beans): Often used as a cover crop, but their large beans are delicious and highly nutritious.
​Edamame (Soybeans): A great summer crop that yields an awesome, protein-packed snack while doing heavy lifting underground.
​Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): A heat-loving, drought-tolerant legume that improves your soil health.
​I’m always here to help you get the most out of your growing spaces. Are you planning on adding any of these to your garden layout this year? Let me know in the comments below! 👇
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​🌱 The Secret to "Free" Fertilizer: How to Grow Your Own Nitrogen
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