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Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Ok So I was wondering, I used plastic mulch on winter sq and got fruits 2 weeks before the same variety that was grown on dirt. It also works for pepers cucs etc.

Has anyone done this and discovered this as well? I was wondering how this would do for growing water melons in Colorado.
Any advice?

12/30/2011 3:23:12 PM

Ut

If your goal is to harvest earlier then yes that's normal with balck plastic due to the added heat. It can also help maintain a more constant soil moisture. People worry I guess about breathability of the soil though, and some like to root down the vines so you'd have to cut holes where you want them. Great for weeds. I think most growers prefer landscaping cloth for breathability but it costs more. I've used black plastic for butternuts, banana squash, melons, and indeterminate tomatoes, all of which are harvested earlier in Utah on plastic.

12/30/2011 3:45:01 PM

Ut

I lay the drip hose down BEFORE the plastic and you have to put bricks every few feet or the big wind storms will get a hold of it and it really makes you mad to see it strewn across the patch:) You can water through landscaping cloth however.

12/30/2011 3:47:59 PM

Corryton, TN

Used it here in 2010, check diary. WMD covered it pretty good. I not to concerned about breathability. Issues I had was that there needs to be weed control beyond plastic if your using narrow plastic. My plants got lost in the jungle and that makes it hard to get weight gains and control pests. I assume wide plastic would have rain run-off issues and the wind would tie your plants in a knot unless you put bird netting or something down for them to hang on to. I went to landscape fabric in 2011 and increased my PB by 86 pounds.

12/30/2011 4:17:11 PM

Muddy Waters

Are you guys talking sheets of plastic(like in a roll?)if so no good for me, you need water to get to the entire root system of a melon plant thats 360 degrees around stump & out at least 20 feet,I prefer to water out 30 feet.

12/30/2011 7:56:18 PM

Ut

I've used plastic 20 feet wide and as long as 100 feet. It all gets watered because the drip is places evenly so it all gets soaked. I've even used an injection system to add ferts as needed.

12/30/2011 8:19:37 PM

Hamilton Nj

can u use a blue tarp???? lol i was thinking of going really cheap i saw a 10x10 tarp for 5 bucks at a fleamarket ,useing mostly for weed controle,installing irragation system this spring!!! pizza

12/30/2011 8:24:25 PM

formerly RGG

A 10' tarp will only reach out five feet from the vine on each side. That is entirely too small for a vigorous root system. And just 100 sq ft for a vine is also kind of small.Four of those or a 20 x 20 tarp might work pretty good.

12/30/2011 8:44:35 PM

Bowdon, GA

Landscaping cloth is a much better option, breathable, lets rain through, keeps weeds down and allows node roots to root.

12/30/2011 9:26:16 PM

formerly RGG

You are exactly right Jake.

12/30/2011 10:10:03 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Thanks, I will look into landscape cloth, but www.robertmarvel.com sell plastic mulch really cheap. thanks

12/31/2011 1:06:10 PM

formerly RGG

Sam's Club has some nice large rolls of quality landscape cloth in the spring and early summer for a very good price.

12/31/2011 3:09:00 PM

Hamilton Nj

okay thanks guys,i got another question for u guys i only got 15 wide x 20length,i was gonna stick 2 plants side by side ,am i better with just one plant due to space issues????

thanks pizza

12/31/2011 10:53:20 PM

formerly RGG

You might be able to get two nice melons out of 350 square feet. I think most growers would stick to just one plant in that much area though. In my opinion you are kind of on the line.

1/1/2012 12:05:30 AM

Muddy Waters

I would do 1 plant pete & self it

1/1/2012 12:36:24 AM

Hamilton Nj

thanks guys!!!pizza

1/1/2012 11:51:26 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

So lets say I could devote a 200 ft long by (?) lets say (?) is12 ft should I make(?)=18 ft
what do u think how wide should i make it.

How far apart should I make the plants? I will be using drip tape and plastic mulch.

1/12/2012 11:34:03 PM

Corryton, TN

I'd go 18 x 18 if you can control weeds.

1/13/2012 6:50:11 AM

Lloydminster/AB

Have you tried that cornstarch based plastic mulch? It breaks down slowly over the season so when it's warm it's already letting the soil breathe. When I've pulled vines I noted that the secondary roots had went right through. Just till it all in at seasons end.

1/13/2012 5:42:03 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

don I will look into it thanks.

1/16/2012 2:34:09 PM