Another question

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
annabelle15 Niles, MI(Zone 5a) May 09, 2012

I am planning to mulch my tomatoes with barley straw, I have a whole bale, (we use it in the pond to keep string algae at bay), I am wondering if it will have any effect on the tomatoes? I have never used mulch on the tomatoes, and I figures that it would make gardening easier. Am I right?????????

Post #9116774
Quote
Doug9345 Durhamville, NY(Zone 5b) May 09, 2012

Mulch is used to suppress weeds, hold moisture in the soil, and keep it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Weeds would be the most useful one to me.

Post #9116809
Quote
paulgrow Allen Park, MI(Zone 6a) May 09, 2012

I always mulch my tomatoes with straw. It prevents heavy rain form splashing soil onto the lower leaves and helps to prevent fungal diseases as well as deter weeds and conserve moisture.

Post #9116896
Quote
gardadore Saylorsburg, PA(Zone 6a) May 09, 2012

I plant my tomatoes in the straw bales and they flourish! Straw is great for many things in the garden. It has really helped to recondition my soil!

Post #9116950
Quote
Carolyn Salem, NY(Zone 4b) May 10, 2012

Paul, mulching with straw does help prevent splashback infection from any spores and bacteria that were shed the previous year by infected plants.

But all NEW foliage infections are spread via wind and rain so mulching can do nothing to prevent those. One can prevent the fungal ones fairly easily with the best anti-fungal but what we have available to us to prevent the NEW bacterial ones are not all that effective.

Carolyn

Post #9118159
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Tomatoes & Peppers Threads

Go to all Tomatoes & Peppers threads
BACK TO TOP