Biodegradeable Mulch Film - any experience?

[rdback]

We usually use newspaper topped with straw as our weed barrier, but that's labor-intensive and we're getting older, so all that bending over is becoming more painful, literally. I've been looking at using black plasticulture type stuff, but we try to be earth-friendly when possible. I stumbled across this stuff and wondered if anybody has any experience with it. It's supposed to be biodegradeable, but I'm a little concerned about how long it will be effective. It says "a couple of months", but I need more like 4 months. it also says "nonpermeable", which makes me think about the heat chimney effect that Ron mentioned in another thread. Any thoughts/experiences? 

[FrostyTurnip]

About . . What? . . 2 years ago, I guess.  I ordered some seeds from Harris.  They accidentally sent me a 100 lb roll of thin translucent plastic.  It was damaged.  They told me to keep it.  It’s too thin for a greenhouse.  The identification said it is a soil warmer that is supposed to degrade on its own from exposure to UV.  It’s just thin cheap green house plastic.  

When it breaks down, it blows all over the place.  Extremely messy.  I can see that a similar but dark tint could be used as a weed barrier, but I bet it’s messy too.  That photo reminds me of black trash bags.  



Messy or no, I plan to use a large portion of mine to actually warm the soil to get a head start on corn, rosselle and others and to help mitigate excess rain.  On a smaller scale, it’s not sweat to remove it before it becomes problematic.  By the end of May, it’ll be too hot anyway.

[heavyhitterokra]

White Plasticulture is not normally a bad thing, though I've had better luck in the long run, using black. I've often wished they made a gray color. The white is a bit too cool early on, the black is way hot come July and August. It will literally bake onions in the ground. If using black, a person needs to plant things that are very leafy, in order for the plants to provide their own shade come the hotter months. Black really gives things a big head start, but it catches up to the plants later if they are not well-leafed by mid-June or so. I've never used biodegradable mulch, so I can't comment on that.

White is awesome for cool season crops like cabbage, and onions love it. Corn seems to do well on white too, as do beans, pumpkins, or cucumbers.

I use black on almost everything else. Tomatoes and okra prefer black. Sweet potatoes and peppers do well on black plastic, Cucumbers, pumpkins, or corn will go either way. Beans, onion, and cabbage hate it.

Whatever color you use, make sure it is well irrigated underneath, as the plastic acts somewhat like an umbrella.

[woodeye]

rdback, FrostyTurnip, heavyhitterokra.

Thank You folks for all the information!

[rdback]

Thanks indeed everybody!

Great feedback. I think I'm gonna do a small trial this year - maybe 50' or so. Probably a row of peppers and a row of tomatoes. We'll see what happens.