From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Chapel Hill, NC

Anybody ever skip the pine needles and just grow melons on the landscape cloth?

4/28/2017 8:32:06 AM

Lexington, Ky

I attempted one plant with cloth only, didn't turn out very well. The cloth by itself was too hot. Didn't get any secondary rooting, probably due to the heat. The plant would wilt on the hottest of days. Grew a decent size melon but the other plant that grew in straight dirt with alot of weeds did much better.

4/28/2017 9:08:36 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

If you use the cheap one year fabric without covering it will only last half way thru the season. If you use better fabric the roots won't penetrate it. I tried it once with different 1, 5, and 20 year fabric and they all get very hot.

4/28/2017 11:08:40 AM

Chapel Hill, NC

Ok thanks, looks like pine needles it will be.

4/28/2017 1:03:24 PM

NE Arkansas

Grass will actually grow under the cheap weed fabric without pine needles

4/28/2017 7:46:02 PM

Home of happy lil plants

230-240 lb range melon was grown last year direct on fabric in kentucky

4/28/2017 9:05:03 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Spence, in greenhouse, or outside? Peace, Wayne

4/29/2017 1:37:14 AM

Fenton, MI

I grow on the cheap stuff with nothing on it. But it doesn't get as hot here as NC. I know some of the growers in NC use the pine needles. But it does get hot in AL, so maybe try one each way.

4/29/2017 7:40:20 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Use the cheap fabric with pine straw.
Wheat straw works too,but sometimes it can root through the fabric.

4/29/2017 9:33:29 PM

Home of happy lil plants

i may try 1-2 direct on the fabric this year still havent decided

4/30/2017 12:07:20 AM