Black Plastic as mulch

pmcgrady · December 20, 2016

Going to be growing quite a few melons, squash and cucumbers this year, and have been reading a lot of growers recommend 6mil black plastic as mulch for them... Was wondering about planting tomatoes this way (I use paper/newspaper and straw). A 10'x50' row I could plant 20 tomatoes at 5' spacing, 2.5' from sides and ends. I would probably throw straw over plastic when it gets hot if needed. What about watering? I usually put a gallon can around seedling, and let tomato grow up through it and go down rows and fill cans to water them, which takes a lot of time. Any tips of growing tomatoes through plastic would be appreciated.

December 20, 2016	#1
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	Black Plastic as mulch Going to be growing quite a few melons, squash and cucumbers this year, and have been reading a lot of growers recommend 6mil black plastic as mulch for them... Was wondering about planting tomatoes this way (I use paper/newspaper and straw). A 10'x50' row I could plant 20 tomatoes at 5' spacing, 2.5' from sides and ends. I would probably throw straw over plastic when it gets hot if needed. What about watering? I usually put a gallon can around seedling, and let tomato grow up through it and go down rows and fill cans to water them, which takes a lot of time. Any tips of growing tomatoes through plastic would be appreciated.