Was red mulch a mistake?
christini24
10 years ago
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Jayme H.
10 years agochristini24
10 years agoRelated Discussions
50 pounds of moldy black oil sunflower seeds as mulch_big mistake
Comments (12)If the strawberries have already perished as a result of the sunflowers seeds, go ahead and dig the seeds into the soil. And I'd add some other organic matter as well. The decomposition of the seeds, together with the other OM, will neutralize the allelopathic effects fairly rapidly, although I'd avoid planting anything this season. If you want faster results, remove the seeds and compost them in a designated area, like with your other compostables. But still work in some other OM in the strawberry plot before replanting....See MoreHas anyone tried Red Mulch?
Comments (5)I was present at the NE Vegetable Conference in MA when Clemson U introduced that red mulch. It was designed to be used by commercial farmers who use determinate plants since you have to leave a couple of feet on either side of the plants for reflection to work. The initial data said an increase of 15-20% yield, but that figure has gone down and down to maybe near 10%. So if you have a plant that gives you 20 tomatoes, you might get two more and then weigh that against the cost of the red plastic mulch and it makes no sense to me to use it. Carolyn, who was raised in a Shaker built home in Loudonville and who knows the Albany area very well....See MoreTurbo-Tomato Mulch (Red Plastic) From Gurneys
Comments (10)I consider the red plastic mulch as being useless, not that I'm shy about saying that. I was present at the NE vegetable conference when Clemson U first presented info about it and handed out literature. At that time they said it would increase production by about 20%, but that turned out not be true as the years went by. Conservatively, maybe 5-10 % increase. Take a plant that normally might give 20 fruits, taking the 10%, that means 2 more fruits, and then compare that to the cost of that red plastic, which is not cheap. There are various colored plastic mulches now available in blue, green, etc., all said to reflect back certain wave lengths to the plants. Finally, to have red mulch do anything, there has to be at least two feet on either side of a mature plant in order for wave length reflection, which limits it to commercial growers who usually plant determinate varieties. Carolyn...See Morethe experience of using Canada Red Garden Mulch in 5-1-1 mix?
Comments (0)Hello! Recently I got one fragrance tea olive tree. The seller suggested to pot in 5-1-1 mix in the container. I did my research in the forum for a while, and finally found the product closest to the fine pine bark in Canada is Canada Red Garden Mulch from Hardware (https://www.homehardware.ca/en/2-cuft-canada-red-garden-mulch/p/5011943). I just called my local store and ordered one bag. Probably I will receive it next week. I am wondering whether people using this product in 5-1-1 mix could share the experience with this product. I would greatly appreciate. Big thank in advance!...See Morekittt29
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