Mulching question?

rdhwyalane 9/24/2021, 9:41 pm

This may be a dumb question, but I'll ask anyway... Do you mulch when you plant seeds, or after your plants begin to grow?

I used wheat straw to mulch the area where i planted my seeds. We've had quite a bit of rain here lately so the mulch is wet, and I'm wondering if it will "smother" them. I pushed aside the mulch and see that some of the seeds are starting to grow, I just wonder if they will be able to grow up through the wet mulch.

Thanks for any advice.

OhioGardener 9/24/2021, 10:03 pm

I do not mulch them until the seeds have germinated and are growing enough to have at least a couple true leaves. Then I do not pull the mulch up against the stems of the plants to prevent rot of the seedling.

yolos 9/25/2021, 2:19 pm

I also do as Ohio Gardener says. Except I use burlap covering the seeds until they germinate. It keeps the birds from pecking out the seeds. After germination I take off the burlap. After they get big enough I then lay wheat straw around the seedlings or down the row. After germination, I take off the burlap and store it until I need it again.

Burlap covering pea seeds waiting for germination.

rdhwyalane 9/25/2021, 10:21 pm

Okay, sounds like maybe I should remove the mulch then. Thanks for the tips! Smile

**sanderson** 10/1/2021, 12:19 am

I've been lightly mulching with E-Z Straw which is lighter than bailed straw. Because I sow by the SFG guidelines, I know where the seeds are planted and can go real light in those spots.

I have also used 1" sections of paper towel and TP cores to mark the spots and mulch between. This photo is from 2013, my first year, and is a really horrible example of what not to do. Embarassed

I DO NOT use wood chips as mulch in the beds, pots or buckets, only straw. I no longer have to use as many pots as I have all the beds I can manage.

rdhwyalane 10/2/2021, 10:33 pm

The TP inserts are a great idea!

**sanderson** 10/4/2021, 1:46 pm

I've been saving rolls for bok choy and Swiss chard seeds.

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