Mulch?

[ProfessorPangloss]

I've always mulched my veggies with either wood chips or cut grass (un-treated, natch). Is there any reason not to do that for my tobacco? The soil I'm working with is gravelly, so it's almost too well drained. Either mulch would help retain moisture, and everything I know about soil suggests it is better not to let the sun bleach it out directly. What say y'all?

candidates (for me) include grass, municipal wood chips, corrugated cardboard, shredder paper, and brown construction paper.

 

[ProfessorPangloss]

...the other thought that I forgot to finish was that for me, I've noticed that there is basically zero mud spatter on lower leaves when you mulch. This has led to healthier tomatoes for me, and so I wonder if it would allow for an increase in usable leaf.

 

[grgfinney]

I used wood chips and cedar mulch last year with great results,watered once the whole season and didn't have to weed

 

[Jitterbugdude]

The answer is: "it depends" I'm a big fan of mulch for tobacco but it has to applied at the right time. Years ago I tried the no till method. This is where you do not till your garden but instead keep heaping thick layers of mulch on top. The first year I planted tobacco in my no till patch it did absolutely nothing. Did not grow a single inch in about 6 weeks. It took me that long to figure out that the thick layer of mulch had reduced the springtime soil temp way too much for tobacco to thrive. I pulled all the mulch away and the plants took off.

Usually I will plant my tobacco and about 3 or 4 weeks later I will mulch it. This allows the sun to heat the soil up enough for the tobacco to establish their roots and put on a little growth. This year though, I mulched the same day I transplanted. We were having a heat wave (10 degrees above normal) and the long range forecast was for it to continue for the month of May. My plants are huge for it only being early June.

 

[ProfessorPangloss]

Ok, so building on what you and grgfinney said, if it's 90 degrees here in Kentucky and I haven't planted yet, the moisture may be more important than the temp at this point, so maybe wood chip it at transplant? I was planning on planting today or so.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

If it's in the 90's already I'd say go ahead and mulch at transplant. Keep in mind that with mulch added to your tender young plants you are providing the perfect environment for slugs and cut worms. I always cover my plants with Diatomaceous Earth for about a week after transplant.

 

[Boboro]

Ive used newspaper under leaves for years. My patches are to big to lay out newspaper now and I run out of leaves. Ive started usein some grass clippins but don't know if its a good thing yet.

 

[Chicken]

you could use a weed barrier mat... but id suggest not getting one that is bio-degradable.. they dont last long enough before they start breaking down.

next year i think im gonna spray 30 days before planting to make sure no weeds '' can grow '' with a special chemical that prevents sproutage of weeds.

and ive spun the idea of the space between my rows, perhaps picking up some discarded carpet. and laying it down between my rows, so i have no weeds.. this being the '' real'' first year ive planted on my new spot, ive got massive weeds between my rows, [ which i will be pulling today ]

i used wood chips between the rows in my veggie garden.