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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] How do you use plastic and wateringsystemstogether?

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  • From: "William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] How do you use plastic and wateringsystemstogether?
  • Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:10:25 -0500

It doesn't need to be air-tight, just wrapped down. The soil and air will
both heat underneath just fine, believe me. I've been doing it for over 25
years. The main reason for wrapping it tight (embossed films do this better)
is that the material will catch in the wind if loose and come right out of
the ground. When plastic mulch was experimental and early users failed to
wrap it tight, they would have plastic mulch kites flying in the air. One
end would be up in the wind and the other still stuck in the ground.

Bill
William H. Shoemaker
Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - Crop Sciences
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174
630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610
wshoemak AT illinois.edu


>
> I have a question about using plastic on beds of melons or tomatoes or
> whatever and watering systems.   All the advice says to make sure the
> plastic is tight to the soil or it won't really help much to warm the
> soil.  And all the pictures I've seen show the plastic tight to the
> soil.  But how do you handle the watering system if you do that?  I'm
> using a drip system with emitters every foot.  It's under the plastic
> but it prevents the plastic from lying on the soil in many places.  If
> I put it on top a lot of water would just pool on the plastic.
> Wondering how other people handle watering when growing through
> plastic.
>
> Thanks,
> Richard





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