Magic Mulch Yields Bountiful Tomatoes

REQUIREMENTS FOR REPRINT: You have permission to publish
this article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter,
ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if it
remains unchanged and you include the copyright and author
information (Resource Box) at the end.   You may not use
this article in any unsolicited commercial email (spam).

You may retrieve this article by:

Autoresponder:  redmulch@getresponse.com
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net/articles/redmulch.txt

Words:  298
Copyright: 2006 Marilyn Pokorney

Please leave the resource box intact with an active link,
and send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the
article appears to author.
---------------------------------------

Growing tomatoes with red plastic mulch can increase
harvests of high quality fruit by 10 to 15 percent.  USDA
tests show that plants growing with red mulch produce
tomatoes weighing an average of 46 percent more than
tomatoes mulched with black plastic or many other methods of
mulching.

The colored mulch can also have an effect on taste and
protein levels in leaves which might provides protection
from insects.

Phytochrome, is the chemical responsible.  Scientists
consider phytochrome to be the universal regulator in plants
by which plants sense the quality of surrounding light.

The colored plastic mulch reflects different colored light
rays to the stem, undersides of leaves, and the developing
fruit under the leaves.   This helps the plant to grow a
healthier and stronger plant.

Different tomato varieties respond differently to the red
mulch. The scientific theory is that different red
wavelengths are absorbed differently by different species of
plants.

Tomatoes grown with red mulch must be staked or caged.  The
sunlight has to reach the colored mulch in order for the
light rays to reflect properly.  Big plants covering the
mulch will cover all of the red color and it will become
ineffective.

The red mulch also helps protect tomato plants from
nematodes which can stunt growth and even kill plants.

Nematodes affect roots with small to large galls and massive
root swelling.  This causes the plant to be unable to
extract proper nutrients from the soil in order to grow
producing stunted, yellow or pale green plants which wilt
even when receiving adequate moisture.

Studies at the USDA show that red mulch suppresses nematodes
by reflecting light to the plant instead of to the roots
thus depriving the nematodes of food.

For more information about using red mulch visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/redmulch.htm

*****************************************
Author:  Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email:  Current address on website
*****************************************