Time to Put Down Plastic

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Is the plastic totally impermeable or does it have micro holes in it?

 

[DFB]

Plastic mulch most growers use is solid. In areas that get decent amounts of rainfall water has no problem getting in, under, or around it, plus condensation can form underneath.


And it can come in assorted colors often for heat reduction or to enhance a specific crop yield university studies have been done on different colors but black is probably the most widely used for us here in the Northeast.

I have seen perforated plastic sold in the past mostly for home garden marketing.


The mil thickness being sold for me any ways has been getting thinner and thinner over the years. Thinness most probably a manufacturing cost saving also generally includes more feet per roll verses lifespan in the field or overall durability.

 

[randy41]

some plastic mulch is embossed which is supposed to get it to hug the soil better.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I have not had time to update this thread (work is crazy and harvest has begun)but took a few pictures last night with my cell phone. Yellow squash, zucchini, and cucumbers are producing great. The transplants I set out, about 15 of each, are producing a half bushel every other day. The plants that I seeded in the plastic now have the first small fruit on them.

The green beans (mountain half runners) have been strung and are over 6' in places with tons of blooms and small beans on them, seeded direct in plastic.

Peppers: all have small peppers on them, cantaloupe and watermelon transplants have small fruit with direct seed starting to bloom.

I called my wife from the field and told her what I picked. It was sold before I got back to the house. We have a list of people we text during the week. They like bigger squash. The market people like small squash so this works out good.

Tomatoes have lots of green fruit on them however I have lost a few due to Southern Wilt. I think some of the seed I purchased was the problem. I have never had Southern Wilt before.

Over all I think the green beans, squash and cucumbers have done excellent on plastic. I have never in the past harvested this much on such few plants.

Okra seems to be doing good on plastic and it appears the tomatoes and peppers are ahead of last year with more fruit.

I have increased watering to 1 hour every other day now that fruit has appeared.

Went to two Saturday markets and sold herbs, new potatoes, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. Sold out at both markets. The first two markets have paid for all the seed ordered for this year and next. I need a few more weeks to recoup all cost and then will start working on profit...if I don't count my labor

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I have been so busy lately I have not had time to update this thread. So this may be the final update (please hold the applause).

The plastic has been a great success. Harvest has been triple compared to last year. It has been hard to harvest all the produce and actually had to trough away some. Our market sales increased 300% (not counting what we sold during the week direct from the farm), which is a good thing and I have donated to several families, churches, and nursing homes.

I even had the Agriculture Extension Service in my county buying produce for events. I also donated to them for special projects at the county fairs.

Everything planted on plastic has produced excellent. My tomatoes did get a blight this year but that was not due to the plastic but rather me not having time to spray them properly.

The plastic and drip saved on weeding and hoeing but my labor increased due to the increase in production of crops. Almost to the point I did not care about the tomato blight

The deer fence worked great and I was able to take out a couple of groundhogs with the Browning 22:thumbsup:

I have planted late cukes, squash, and beans that are doing good and may plant some broccoli in a couple of weeks.

This was actually too much produce for a one man operation with having to work 45-50 hours a week at my job. However I do know now that if I can retire early I will be able to produce enough income to help pay bills and turn a profit.

Next year I will plant 50-75% less on quantity and increase verities and add additional crops.

Here is a picture of the market stand. It usually looks better but I forgot a lot of my display items that day. We really needed to go to two tents but I just did not have time to pick everything.

I had people on waiting list for some items and at times all I had to do was call and they would come to the farm and pick it up.

I am to the point that I am strongly considering spraying the entire 3 acres with roundup this weekend and getting ready for the winter cover crop

 

[sld]

That would be a great retirement gig! Nice job!

 

[snowbelt geauga]

Nice looking produce.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

snowbelt
Yes, the produce looked great. The plastic really helped keep it clean and for the most part disease free.

sld
We averaged $325.00 on the Saturday market which lasted 4 hours, not counting what we sold during the week.

 

[snowbelt geauga]

I am sold on plastic. I use it for all the produce I plant. It really helped plants from not drowning from all the rain we have gotten . Also helped keep the soil temps up. A very cool and wet summer in N.E. Ohio.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

My last update for the plastic.

Did my last big harvest for peppers this year. Frost should not be far away. I picked 20 bushels Saturday. I had not picked for about two weeks and peppers will produce till frost. Picked Bells, jalapenos, and sweet banana. I did not pick the two other hot peppers; maybe this week. I still have some late squash and beans, but I quit, I'm tired

Here is a picture of part of the haul. I donated all to the soup kitchen and food bank for my county. Total weight over 300 lbs, total dollar value $700.00. Good for taxes

Plastic did great and I have already removed it from most of the field and have my winter peas planted.

One other thing, I will not plant this many peppers next year