Hanta Yo said:
Ranchy said:
sw said:
nr,
Hanta started using the red mulch about 10 years ago, tomatoes ripen sooner, yield way more, we have them coming out our ears. She cans them, makes salsa, spaghetti sauce, BBQ sauce, you can slice them, dice them, boil them, have a mater sandwich, give them to Jinglebob,,,,,,, they really do grow well with the red mulch.
I'd heard that helped, but didn't know whether to believe it or not......maybe I should get some and try it here!
Ranchy,
I'm a FIRM believer here, first couple years planted tomatoes and I was lucky to get a couple green ones in by the first frost. sw read about the red plastic mulch, I said, let's give 'er a try, been using them every year since. Also heard the red mulch works with peppers, too. Haven't tried that yet. For short growing seasons (especially) I recommend the red plastic mulch for the 'maters! We put soaker hoses where we plant the tomato plants and lay the plastic down a week or so before planting to get the soil warm (we plant our tomatoes eary and use
wall 'o waters). Make a hole in the plastic and plant the plant in it, when I need to water, just plug the hose into the soaker hose. Works great, and no weeds around your 'mater plants!
Found the article below which talks about how different plastic colors besides red, can effect which insects come and which is most beneficial to the type veg. grown. Interesting stuff! Thank you sw for the address.
I'll send for some.
" Plastic technologiesDrip irrigation ... Use of Mulch Color in Vegetable Production
Michael D. Orzolek and William J. Lamont, Jr.
Department of Horticulture - Center for Plasticulture, The Pennsylvania State University
When purchasing polyethylene film for use in the production of vegetables in the field, there are several characteristics of the polyethylene that users must consider for specific applications. Film thickness spans the entire range from 0.015 mil to 1.5 mil; the thinner films requiring specific applicators to place the film in the field, to the thicker films which would last for 2 years or a triple cropping sequence. Opacity of the film (how much light will pass through the plastic) will govern both the amount of radiation which will heat the soil and the growth of weeds under the film. The last characteristic which growers have to decide is mulch color: black, white, silver, red, blue, brown, IRT (infrared thermal), green IRT and yellow. Each of the colors will produce specific temperature (both soil and ambient) and light modifications within the micro-environment of the raise-bed/plant canopy.
Over the last 10 years, we have conducted extensive testing of the affect of mulch color and various vegetable crops. Some generalities that can be made regarding color are: 1) silver repels aphids, 2) blue attracts thrips - has been very effective in greenhouse tomato production and 3) yellow attracts insects. There also appears to be some reduction in disease pressure with crops grown on specific colors. Based on years of field research at the Horticulture Research Farm, Rock Springs, PA, the following colors are recommended for specific crops.
Tomato - this crop appears to respond more to red mulch compared to black with an average 12% increase in marketable fruit yield over a 3 year period. There appears to be a reduction in the incidence of early blight in plants grown on red mulch compared to plants grown on black mulch. When environmental conditions for plant growth are ideal, tomato response to red mulch is minimal.
Pepper - this crop appears to respond more to silver mulch compared to black with an average 20% increase in marketable fruit yield and fruit size over a 3 year period. Lowest yield of marketable pepper were harvested from plants grown on either white or light blue mulch at this location. In more southern climates, below North Carolina, pepper response to white mulch would be entirely different. Pepper plants grown on green IRT had similar marketable fruit yields compared to plants grown on black.
Eggplant - this crop appears to respond more to red mulch compared to black with an average 12% increase in marketable fruit yield over a 2 year period. Greatest response of eggplant to red mulch observed when plants were growing under stress conditions (temperature and water). There may be a varietal response of eggplant to the use of plastic mulch.
Cantaloupe - this crop appears to respond more to green IRT or dark blue mulch compared to black with an average 35% increase in marketable fruit yield over a 3 year period. Lowest yield of marketable cantaloupe were harvested from plants grown on either white or black mulch at this location. In more southern climates, below North Carolina, cantaloupe response to white or black mulch would be entirely different.
Cucumber - this crop appears to respond more to dark blue mulch compared to black with an average 30% increase in marketable fruit yield over a 3 year period. There was a difference in yield response between an open-pollinated and hybrid variety. Lowest yield of marketable cucumber were harvested from plants grown on yellow mulch at this location. In more southern climates, below North Carolina, cucumber response to yellow mulch may be entirely different.
Summer Squash - this crop appears to respond more to dark blue mulch compared to black with an average 20% increase in marketable fruit yield over a 2 year period. Lowest yield of marketable zucchini squash was harvested from plants grown on yellow mulch at this location. In more southern climates, below North Carolina, cucumber response to yellow mulch may be entirely different.
Onion - this crop appears to respond more to several different mulch colors including red, metalized silver and black compared to no plastic mulch with an average 24% increase in marketable bulb yield over 8 varieties. There was a significant difference in yield response between specific onion varieties and mulch color. This trial evaluated red onions, but other onion types should respond similar to the red onion varieties grown in this mulch trial.
Potato - this crop appears to respond more to several different mulch colors including red, metalized silver and black compared to no plastic mulch with an average 24% increase in marketable tuber yield. While there was no significant difference in yield response between the mulch colors, potatoes grown on the metalized silver mulch can have the highest marketable tuber yields, coolest soil temperature and least number of Colorado Potato beetle adults. However, the metalized silver mulch can be difficult to lay in the field and obtain a tight fit over the raised bed. Compared to black or red plastic mulch, the metalized silver mulch in cool years may also have the lowest plant population of potatoes because of poor plant emergence. There was a significant difference in yield response between specific potato varieties and mulch color. Use of black or possibly red plastic mulch will produce the highest yield of quality potatoes.
For additional information regarding plasticulture or the Penn State Center for Plasticulture, log on to the following web sites.
http://www.plasticulture.org - American Society for Plasticulture
plasticulture.cas.psu.edu - The Penn State Center for Plasticulture
30th National Agricultural Plastics Congress - San Diego, CA - February 23-27, 2002
2/4/2000
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