This is about one half of my backyard.
I’m planning on growing tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, zucchini and squash here. Under the rows is about 5yards of compost. Under the compost I shoveled the grass and topsoil up and just turned it over. I also put my chickens on the area for extra fertility.
I couldn’t control the weeds in this area in the past. I would plant things and not weed well until it was just too overgrown. Hopefully this is the answer.
The problem so far has been the wind. This picture was taken after me reinstalling the cover for the third time after being wisked away in the wind. I put extra staples in and gathered old pavers to weigh it down. Lot of work, but I’d rather do the work now then during the growing season when things are busy.
2 Likes
Nice, I find that long boards around the edges do a good job of keeping the cover down.
1 Like
How long do you plan on keeping the occultation going? I solarized with an old pool cover for about 4 weeks and that did a good job.
1 Like
I use greenhouse grade plastic mesh which can be purchased in rolls 15 feet wide by 300 feet long. It has the same problem with wind blowing it up, but on a much larger scale. I weight the plastic down with t-posts laid down the edges every 15 feet and I put wire stables beside each plant. Look at the Lumite on this website under products. Shaw Fabric Products
One huge caution, I planted squash on plastic mesh several years ago and had a disaster. Squash bugs love to hide under the fabric during the day and feed on plants at night. Sprays won’t kill them under the fabric. Only C. Moschata thrives on plastic. This may not be true in other conditions. I’m in zone 7B northern Alabama.
3 Likes
I am keeping the rows on all season. I plan on planting rows throughout the entire area.
Ahh I see. I misinterpreted the purpose.
1 Like
I will check out that link, thanks.
Squash bugs have been very bad for me too. I go around with a flashlight and try to hand pick off as many as possible but in the past the weeds got so bad I couldn’t even get to the plant. The squash vine borer was even worse though and was wiping out plants all last year. I’m going to build hoop houses to cover the zucchini and yellow squash.
Another option is using brown Paper from HD. Put about an inch of compost down, moisten it, then roll the brown paper on top, moisten, then the rest of the compost and moisten. The paper stops the sun from pent rating, heirgo no weeds, but also keeps the entire thing made up of organic materials, which breaks down over the season. Go double thick on paper if needed. Just like the plastic, you can poke a hole just big enough through the paper to plant.
So long as you moisten everything, nothing should lift or blow up.
-AO
2 Likes
