Planting through black permeable weed control stuff

[GingerKatieSparkles]

My veg patch is abloom with lots of things I didn't plant, mostly docks and lots of little flowers everywhere. Very pretty, but not ideal I'm not going to have much time this year to get up there (two very small children), so I'm thinking the black permeable stuff is my best chance of staying vaguely in control ready for next year. I do however have various stuff I'd like to plant, some bursting out of modules ready to go and some still to be potted out (yes I know, a bit late, but worth a go). I know some of it can definitely be planted through the black stuff - eg cucumbers and tomatoes - but is there any reason why I can't try anything that's transplanted? I'm thinking of salads etc (got a tray of lettuce, chicory and endive waiting to go). What about broccoli and the like? Obviously sowing direct won't work, but once I've got a plant, what would go wrong?

[ina]

Can't think of any reason not to at least try! I have in the past (not in my own garden) planted leeks through holes in black plastic (not the permeable, but ordinary recycled silage wrap - the water runs through the holes), and potatoes - and a few other things. You could also cover the ground around plants with cardboard or newspaper (folded up and dampened to make them heavier - otherwise they blow away). The paper has the advantage that it does in the end rot away, but it's not quite as effective as weed control.

[missie moo]

things (like slugs) like to live under the black stuff, but otherwise it's pretty good. i've used it a lot in the past for all sorts of stuff - potatoes, onions, french beans, chard, strawberries, courgettes and so on. weeds still find a way out through the holes where the veg are planted, but in general it keeps it down a lot. i now use raised beds and compost which makes weed control much easier. i have one area which is covered in the permeable black stuff and wood chips - i grow pumpkins and courgettes through this. the bigger the space between plants, the more successful this method is.

i think it's a very sensible solution when time is an issue. we only see our garden once every 6 or 7 weeks, and over the past few years have gradually managed to reduce the amount of veg patch covered in weed suppressant fabric. we're getting there!

hth, jane

[Magpie]

I have covered part of my lawn with woven weedmat, to start my flower garden. I had planned on just rolling it off in Spring, and hey presto! There's my weed-free garden. So maybe you could plant out part, and leave the rest to be removed later? I just imagine it would get in the way later, and end up all through the soil... does it decompose, does anyone know?

[PaulDavidSumner]

Transplanting root vegetables is generally advised against, due to damage to the part of the plant you ultimately want to eat. Otherwise, transplanting has a lot going for it. I trust you've heard of hardening off (i.e. steadily accustoming plants to the cold outdoors?). In my experience you can often get away with not hardening off. I think transplanting is the best approach for weed-infested ground - when your crops go in they already have a headstart on weeds.

[Enormous Sage]

The area of my patch that I planted sweetcorn in last year is now relatively weed-free.
I think sweetcorn generally does that by sucking the life out of everything surrounding it, and killing weeds in the process. That's my theory anyway.
The fact that the light was blocked out by sweetcorn plants may have helped too.

[Woodburner]

I'm planning a similar thing, using brassicas and cardboard. :)

As I posted elsewhere
"Plastic, whilst very effective at killing weeds, is a haven for slugs, as well as being expensive, and environmentally unfriendly. Mulching fabric is less of a haven and slightly cheaper but still not environmentally friendly. Cardboard is my preferred weed killing mulch, you do have to do a bit of searching to get enough though ;)

Apparently newspaper can be used too, though I have not tried it. (I don't get much and I have other uses for it Wink ) You use the whole newspaper, wetting it first then opening it out on the ground. As with all sheet mulches, you need to overlap the sheetss."

Also by cutting holes in plastic or fabric, you reduce the amount of use you can get out of it in future, whereas cardborad is gradually incorporated into teh soil and actually improves the structure.

[ina]

Slugs seem to like cardboard and newspaper as much as black plastic; but otherwise I fully agree. I've used damp newspaper as slugtraps...

[Woodburner]

I used to get lots of slugs and especially snails with plastic but have had very few with cardboard, I hope it stays that way ;)

[Magpie]

We use weedmat because we are on an extremely windy site, and newspaper or cardboard just blows away, even when wet and covered in mulch. We use wire bent into peg shapes to secure the weedmat. Any other enviro-friendly suggestions would be welcome though!

[Woodburner]

You can put manure on top of the cardboard/newspaper to hold it down. Helps the soil too. I usually use largish flower pots filled with stones that I have picked off the beds.

Just realised you said, when covered with mulch, too.

[ina]

I used to get lots of slugs and especially snails with plastic but have had very few with cardboard, I hope it stays that way ;)

Keep fingers crossed! Maybe, given the choice, they prefer plastic...