MANHATTAN – You may not think of tomatoes as a fickle fruit, but Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham says that the popular garden crop can, indeed, be picky.
Upham noted that colored plastic mulches have gained favor over the more traditional black plastic mulch because they seem to increase the production of marketable fruit. Plastic mulches have long been known to promote earlier fruiting, increased yields and weed control.
“With tomatoes, the color of choice has been red (mulch),” Upham said.
When the season’s weather is ‘perfect’ for growing tomatoes, Upham said there may be no difference in production when using various plastic mulches. But when growing conditions are less than favorable, gardeners may experience up to a 20% increase in their tomato crop when using red mulch – though, on average, the increase is more like 12%.
For best results, Upham suggests home gardeners lay a drip irrigation line near the center of where the mulch will lay, because “the plastic will prevent rainwater or overhead irrigation from reaching the plants.”
Additional steps include:
●Use a hoe to construct trenches for the outer six inches of the plastic mulch. “This allows the center of the bed to be undisturbed, with the edges of the mulch draping down into the trench,” Upham said.
●Fill the trenches to cover the edges of the mulch. “This will prevent wind from catching and blowing the mulch,” according to Upham.
Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.
Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at [email protected], or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.