weeds n seeds
Just Arrived
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Location: Casper, Wyoming
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject: Red plastic for tomatoes |
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Has anyone tried the method of placing red plastic around base of tomato plants to aid in their growing and producing? Have some on hand, but never tried doing this, am wondering if it really works.
What I have in mind (because of the horrendous WINDS here) is using 14 inch diameter old embroidery hoops to hold plastic in a firm circle; placing these in the tomato containers plastic side down; cutting a hole for plants and punching a few extra holes in plastic for water to seep down thru. Hoops will be held in place by stones, or gardening staples, in HOPES wind won't carry them off to next county!
Would appreciate your opinions... .
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CritterPainter
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1208
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Trying to shake off the mental image of red-plastic lined embroidery hoops flying through the air on a cold Wyoming morning...
Really, that sounds like an awfully clever solution. But I've never heard of an advantage to red plastic over any other color, I would presume it's to filter only specific color bandwidths in the light striking it?
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Mary
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
Posts: 591
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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I have heard of red weed shields you put down under tomatoes. I've never tried them. Let us know how it works.
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crazy1
On The Way Up
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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I've tried the red plastic before. No real difference in the plants yield. It was a bonus for weed control, but there's always other natural mulches to help out there.
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
Posts: 591
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Good to know. Thanks Crazy.
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crazy1
On The Way Up
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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No problem wrennie, th best things I've done for tomatoes is mulch heavy with straw and foliar feed with compost tea once or twice a week.
I've used black plastic to warm up the ground, but I remove it after the plants/temps get going in the right direction...up hahahahaha
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
Posts: 591
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| crazy1 wrote: |
I've used black plastic to warm up the ground, but I remove it after the plants/temps get going in the right direction...up hahahahaha |
Cant wait for that to happen here.
Ever use those wall-o-water things. I did once but didnt leave a control plant out to see if it made a difference. (duh)
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weeds n seeds
Just Arrived
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Location: Casper, Wyoming
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all for your comments, really appreciate them. The red plastic is supposed to throw a glare back up that..supposedly..tomatoes, peppers and strawberries enjoy (as well as heating the soil), fruit yields are said to be better. We'll see 'bout that! My 2008 "experiment".. .
Went thru the Walls O Water phase a number of years ago, guess they work BUT how the devil do you empty the things to get them OFF once plants extend above the tops? My experience with them was a fiasco!!
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weeds n seeds
Just Arrived
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Location: Casper, Wyoming
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all for your comments, really appreciate them. The red plastic is supposed to throw a glare back up that..supposedly..tomatoes, peppers and strawberries enjoy (as well as heating the soil), fruit yields are said to be better. We'll see 'bout that! My 2008 "experiment".. .
Went thru the Walls O Water phase a number of years ago, guess they work BUT how the devil do you empty the things to get them OFF once plants extend above the tops? My experience with them was a fiasco!!
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crazy1
On The Way Up
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck to ya weds n seeds.
Nope wrennie, never tried the walls of water. Have thought about it. But then again I think about a lot of things. lol
I know a few people who swear by them for getting tomatoes and peppers out early here.
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Growing to save the past for the future.
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StarLiteFarms
On The Way Up
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: Oklahoma, Piedmont
Posts: 149
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| Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:29 am Post subject: |
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hmm what is the walls of water?! (:
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
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