Best way to mulch in containers

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · January 31, 2008

This will be my third year growing in containers and in the past I have just used about an inch or two of cypress multh on top of the potting mix.

I was wondering what everyone else does.

I bought some of the sheets of red tomato plastic for mulch a few years back but have never used it. Would using that in combination with the cypress help keep moisture in the mix? would it heat up the soil more?

Just thinking since about a game plan since seed starting is not for a couple more months in my zone.

Zana · January 31, 2008

I use plain shredded pine bark...or shredded newspaper. It depends on how deep the mulch is to be and how "ornamental" I want them to look.

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · January 31, 2008

Well cypris multch is what we have at teh townhouse so that is what I have been using in my containers but stiill would like to know what everyone else has had good luck with.

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · February 2, 2008

Any other suggestions? I am so in spring mode right now with all the seeds I have to start I cannot wait for the first BLT of the season!!

amideutch · February 3, 2008

Pie Tins. Ami
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...light=pie+tins

Tomstrees · February 3, 2008

I use a layer of seaweed mulch & straw in my pots ...
Has worked fine for me ...

The pictures below are of my "project row" from 2007 ...

~ Tom

creister · February 6, 2008

I have used shredded trees that the city gives away for free. I may try alfalfa hay this year.

Tomaat · March 18, 2008

Hello I am new in the Tomatoville forum, hello every one

.

I mulch my tomatoes using a mix compost and shreded (wetted) newspaper. First layer will be the shredded wet newspaper and then a layer of compost (around 3 cm) and then top up with another layer of shredded wet news paper. I water the ground generously before setting their mulching. It work well during hot summer and I no longer has blossom end rot problems.

amideutch · March 18, 2008

Tomaat, welcome to TVille. You have come to the right place to talk tomatoes. How did you find us? Ami

mresseguie · March 18, 2008

Gobig,

For the last two years I have used a combination of leaf mulch and llama pellets (manure). The pellets have sat in the sun for a while before I use them, so they are very dry and light. As I water, they very slowly release nutrients into the soil.

Our winters are markedly different, but pellets tend to last for 12 to 18 months here in the PNW. I'm guessing they won't last that long in MN. I suspect the hot, humid summers will break them down more quickly.

Peace.

Michael in OR, zone 8.

Tomaat · March 18, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Tomaat, welcome to TVille. You have come to the right place to talk tomatoes. How did you find us? Ami

It is a cool forum, Ami and thanks for the welcome.
I love it !!! Everybody is very friendly and very informative

. I am reading with great interest, there are loads of ideas which I haven't try for my small garden

.
Here are some of my garden produce from last year, the Pink Brandywine tomato plan was infectec by phytoptora fungus not long after the picture was taken, the Romanian hot chili was fantastic, it was my first time growing it and now I am hooked with tomatoes, chilies and couple of other things.

January 31, 2008	#1
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	Best way to mulch in containers This will be my third year growing in containers and in the past I have just used about an inch or two of cypress multh on top of the potting mix. I was wondering what everyone else does. I bought some of the sheets of red tomato plastic for mulch a few years back but have never used it. Would using that in combination with the cypress help keep moisture in the mix? would it heat up the soil more? Just thinking since about a game plan since seed starting is not for a couple more months in my zone.

February 3, 2008	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Pie Tins. Ami http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...light=pie+tins __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

February 3, 2008	#6
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	I use a layer of seaweed mulch & straw in my pots ... Has worked fine for me ... The pictures below are of my "project row" from 2007 ... ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

March 18, 2008	#9
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Tomaat, welcome to TVille. You have come to the right place to talk tomatoes. How did you find us? Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

March 18, 2008	#10
mresseguie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 159	Gobig, For the last two years I have used a combination of leaf mulch and llama pellets (manure). The pellets have sat in the sun for a while before I use them, so they are very dry and light. As I water, they very slowly release nutrients into the soil. Our winters are markedly different, but pellets tend to last for 12 to 18 months here in the PNW. I'm guessing they won't last that long in MN. I suspect the hot, humid summers will break them down more quickly. Peace. Michael in OR, zone 8. __________________ Learning to speak tomato! Got compost?

January 31, 2008	#2
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	I use plain shredded pine bark...or shredded newspaper. It depends on how deep the mulch is to be and how "ornamental" I want them to look.

January 31, 2008	#3
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	Well cypris multch is what we have at teh townhouse so that is what I have been using in my containers but stiill would like to know what everyone else has had good luck with.

February 2, 2008	#4
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	Any other suggestions? I am so in spring mode right now with all the seeds I have to start I cannot wait for the first BLT of the season!!

February 6, 2008	#7
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	I have used shredded trees that the city gives away for free. I may try alfalfa hay this year.

March 18, 2008	#8
Tomaat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 154	Hello I am new in the Tomatoville forum, hello every one . I mulch my tomatoes using a mix compost and shreded (wetted) newspaper. First layer will be the shredded wet newspaper and then a layer of compost (around 3 cm) and then top up with another layer of shredded wet news paper. I water the ground generously before setting their mulching. It work well during hot summer and I no longer has blossom end rot problems.