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formerly RGG

Chris called me the other night to clue me in on some information he received from another grower. I'm sure he won't mind me sharing it on this forum. I have grown on black plastic to eliminate weed problems but the plastic doesn't breath and it is slick and leaves nothing for the plant tendrils to grab on to. The grower told Chris that he uses landscape fabric since it breathes and is water permeable. The problem of nothing to grab onto he fixes by putting down bird netting. I used wire ties last year and I see this as probably being a lot better. Anyway I have decided to use the bird netting . And I am trying a limited amount of landscaping fabric. I have surrounded my plants with 4' x 4' squares of landscape fabric and surrounded that with black plastic. I had already purchased the plastic and already had a small amount of landscape fabric and am on a limited budget so this was the best way for me to go this year. Anyway, for those who are thinking about growing on something besides dirt perhaps this may help a little. I am just not sure how the landscape fabric will hold up on top of the soil as one eBay seller told me it will break down when used this way and the proper use of it is to be covered up and kept from sunlight. Any thoughts?

4/29/2010 8:27:50 PM

Garner, NC

Hey TD, I tried the landscape fabric early this year and didn't like it very much and have since pulled it all up. The reason being it is so thin that unless I cover it with 2 inches of mulch, it let enough light in to allow weeds to grow under it. Now the nursey fabric that they use is much thicker and doesn't allow any light through, but I was concerned about how to keep the plants tacked down and I must admitt the bird netting is a great idea.

4/29/2010 9:37:38 PM

Denver, Co.

I'm going to try the landscape fabric in the veggie garden this year around the tomatoes & peppers etc. I planned to mulch with grass clippings,does this sound good? I should have enough left for the melons & was planning on the same method.

As far as anchoring the vines, I learned a cool way at the RMGVG meeting this year, they take a plastic coat hanger & cut them into a "J" shaped hook (you get 2 from each hanger) this was for pumpkins, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for melons too.

4/29/2010 11:23:51 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

I use a big role of 9 gauge wire from the local farm and garden store. I cut my hoops from that, and also my J hooks.

It is tempting to lay down the plastic, but I really like the secondary rooting I get on the vines. Yes, they do secondary root for me for at least 4 nodes down from the stump.

4/30/2010 9:00:07 AM

Frankfort Ohio

i`m with mmm-bury them suckers and you dont have to worry about the wind as much ,they do root!and the plus side on this is ,they get more from the soil,rob

4/30/2010 11:59:38 AM

sevierville, Tn

Urban_farmer, grass clippings for mulch is a bad idea in a watermelon patch. Probally lead to rot or lots of weeds unless you have none in your grass.

4/30/2010 2:26:03 PM

Frankfort Oh

dido-what smp said

4/30/2010 2:55:03 PM

Bowdon, GA

I use landscaping cloth because the secondary roots will accually root down thru the cloth. As Chris said though you do need something for the plants to anchor to until they root. I have a friend who uses geotextile which is thicker but I don't think they will root through it. I have had a few weeds sprout under landscaping cloth but the Georgia heat ussually takes care of them. I plan to use cloth about 6 feet out on both sides and run plastic in between rows.

4/30/2010 11:31:22 PM

Bowdon, GA

I thought I put some pics in my diary last year but I checked and they were of primary roots. I'll see if I can find them and I'll try to get them posted.

4/30/2010 11:37:27 PM