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Pocatello ([email protected])

I'm wondering if any of you have used IRT (infra-red transmitting) plastic film?

Black plastic on the ground will warm the ground slightly, but doesn't allow weed growth. Clear plastic will warm the ground much more, but weeds grow. The IRT plastic is the best of both worlds. It allows the ground to warm up while preventing so much weed growth. (Or so I'm told... ;-)

I'm interested in your opinions, where you found it, how much it costs...

11/22/2008 10:42:55 PM

Bethlehem CT

That's what I use,it works very well. I Have been growing melons with it for years. I also use it on my AG's early in the season to warm up the soil. It gets removed once the vines start to run. You can get it from Johnny's Selected Seed's.

11/22/2008 11:04:29 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

Does it really keep the weeds from growing?

11/23/2008 11:58:13 AM

Bethlehem CT

yes.

11/23/2008 3:45:40 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Cliff, I used red a few years ago as a test on tomato plants.

I recently read a journal study that commented that blue was the best mulch cover for pumpkins. I wish I had saved the link. I will try to find it for you.

Russ

11/23/2008 7:20:20 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Commercial Vegetable
Production With
Plastic Mulches

http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H-245.pdf

http://www.fshs.org/Proceedings/Password%20Protected/2003%20v.%20116/138-139.pdf

11/23/2008 7:27:51 PM

Ontario, Canada.

THE USE OF DIFFERENT COLORED MULCHES FOR YIELD AND EARLINESS

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/IPM/veg/htms/colrmlch.htm

11/23/2008 7:37:54 PM

Harris Seeds sells different colors and gives basic descriptions in the catalog and on thier website.

11/23/2008 9:24:47 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

After reading a bit on the stuff it does sound interesting. I can envision two diffrent ways of using the stuff.
1- is to use a smaller piece 4x4 or 6x6 and place it directly on the planting site and then remove it once the vines start to run. The piece is small enough that watering would not be too difficult during the early season when the plant is small.
2- Cover a large portion of the patch with the stuff and leave it in place all season long. This would achieve the maximum benifit of warming the soil and controlling the weeds. You would probably have to use a drip sprinkler to water as the plastic is impervious to water. You would have to cut the plastic and bury the vines. I suspect it would be a labor intesive project but perhaps it would help.

11/24/2008 8:18:07 AM

Rexburg, Idaho

The stuff at Harris seeds does not specifically say it is the IRT plastic. It may be the same stuff or just colored plastic.

11/24/2008 8:21:39 AM

Bethlehem CT

Thanks for the links Russ.

11/24/2008 3:54:31 PM