Veggie Mulch Question

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BronxBoy Lawrenceville, GA(Zone 7b) Mar 31, 2006

Hi All:

I planted some tomatoes, peppers, white onions and garlic in a raised bed today. I want to add a layer of hay for mulch. About an inch or 2. Should I wait until the garlic and onions sprout or will the shoots be able to grow up through the mulch?

Thanks
BB

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Eggs_Zachtly Washington, MO(Zone 6a) Apr 01, 2006

You may find that straw will stay in place better than hay. And, your alliums should grow through a 2 inch layer of mulch, no problem.

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Zeppy Shenandoah Valley, VA(Zone 6b) Apr 01, 2006

Yep. They're bulbs, and you know how flower bulbs come up easily through even heavy mulch.

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Apr 01, 2006

BB...I'm not quite sure how far south (in Ga) Lawrenceville is but unless you have really nice hot days AND nights I'd hold off on mulching your tomatoes and peppers for a while. Both of those plants love heat and "warm feet"; mulching them too soon will block the sun's heat from warming the soil and pleasing your plants. I'd suggest waiting 'til the air temps are consistent (evened out) and then mulch your tomatoes/peppers in an effort to conserve moisture at that time. (Mulching now will only keep the soil temperature cool and slow down growth and production.)

Shoe.

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BronxBoy Lawrenceville, GA(Zone 7b) Apr 01, 2006

Thanks Everyone:

I brought hay because I didn't know what I was doing. Will buy straw next time.

Shoe:

I'm about 30 miles NE of Atlanta. I'm going to hold off a little while on the mulch. These were store brought plants. I wanted to put them out as sacrificial lambs before I put out the plants I started.

By the way, the Genovese Basil you sent has sprouted very nicely! Almost time to repot them.

BB

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Apr 01, 2006

Great! You're off and running now, eh?

Happy Growing!

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