Red Plastic Sheet Mulch

Red plastic mulch also known as selective reflecting mulch or srm for short is similar to black plastic mulch in that it warms the soil prevents erosion and retains moisture.

Red plastic sheet mulch.

Developed jointly by the usda and clemson university and proven effective in tests by a leading consumer magazine this specially engineered red mulch reflects far red light wavelengths upward into your tomato plants. Red plastic sheeting to mulch strawberry beds. Red plastic mulch is primarily used on tomatoes for an early harvest. Does not control weeds as well but be warned not all brown plastic on the market is irt according to university of vermont extension.

Simply changing the colour of the plastic to red can lead to bigger sweeter strawberries apparently the red feels like competition to the plants and so they work hard to overcome it. Srm red a high quality durable plastic that is 1 0 mil thick and lays well over flat or raised beds. My review of using red plastic garden mulch under tomatoes and other plants. The product that started the red revolution this remarkable red mulch helps tomato plants grow faster and produce more abundant crops.

The polyethylene film is usually a sheet of black plastic and it works the same way as organic mulch the film insulates the soil prevents soil erosion and reduces moisture evaporation. Red mulch reflects intensified red light to the developing plants which increases their. There is more reflectivity early in the season when more of the mulch is exposed to light. Industrial engineering plastic sheets and shapes industrial and engineering plastic sheets sheeting and shapes is the section where you will find a wide variety of industrial grade plastic sheet and shape materials used in industry.

I am pleased with the results. It s thinner than most garden plastic allowing more light and sometimes weeds through. While plastic mulching certainly has its benefits it s important to dispose of the mulching material properly to reduce its effects on the environment. Penn state researchers found yield increases for tomatoes and eggplants on red mulch compared to black.

Tomatoes which yielded 20 more. According to researchers at cornell and clemson universities when tomatoes are grown on red mulch they have higher yields stronger stems and ripen earlier. University studies in the usa have suggested that using red plastic may be even better than using the more popular black plastic as sheet mulch. Red plastic may be a bit harder to find but boy does it sound like its worth a try.

Red researchers at the usda and clemson university noted that certain crops performed better when grown in red mulch as opposed to black mulch. Research has also found that red mulch reduces nematode damage.