"FarmI" <ask@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
be given> wrote in message
news:4809aeeb$0$1328$5a62ac22@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "mw80" <mw80.27e5a27@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>
>> A quick question. I am in my first year of owning an allotment and i am
>> currently planting out my first plants....
>>
>> I have read about the benefits of mulching (weed suppresent, moisture
>> retainer etc). I was wondering which plants should i apply mulch around
>> and what should this mulch consist of? I live in the UK and i hope to
>> grow all types of different veg this year including beans, brassicas,
>> root veg, various salad leaves. Most of the plot is open but i also
>> have two large raised beds
>>
>> It might sound daft but if i apply mulch won't this restrict what i can
>> plant or can i just plant through it?
>
> You can mulch around everything, but there are a few things to consider.
> For very tiny seedlings, I use rice hulls which is the husk of the rice
> grain so is very tiny and I scatter it thinly until the seedlings get to
a
> decent size and can take a more robust mulch. For things like corn (do
> you call that maize in the UK? - anyway, the plant that gets over 2
metres
> and grows cobs of corn) I use very robust mulch (hay/straw/old leaves -
> whatever is to hand and sometimes have it as thick as 30 cm. Some
plants
> don't like mulch right up to their stems but things like tomatoes and
corn
> thrive on it and actually grow more roots out into the mulch if
conditions
> are right.
>
> Also mulch any fallow beds to prevent weeds and to feed your worm
> population and then when you need to plant, just scrape the mulch back
> with your hand and you'll probalby find that the soil is so friable you
> won't need to do anything other than to loosen the soil with a hand
fork.
for fallow gardens I use plant residue. Example, corn stalks once
harvested
or sweet potato or broccoli. Harvest and then spread rest of plant across
the garden. I also use old coffee grounds several inchs thick on beds
lying
fallow over winter. You can mulch a garden bed and put transplants direct
through the mulch or with larger seeds (eg corn0 I have seen people plant
them into a handful of fine compost nestled into the mulch (hay/straw).
rob
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