Plasticulture Gardening How To

Plastic culture is a system offering many benefits, such as earlier crop production by 7 to 21 days, higher yield up to two to three times, cleaner and higher quality produce, more efficient use of water resources, reduced leeching of fertilizer, reduced soil and wind erosion, decreased incidence of disease, better management of certain insect pests, fewer weed problems, reduced soil compaction, and the elimination of root pruning.

Drip irrigation is an important part of the plasticulture production system and should be used with plastic mulch for greater benefits. It can save as much as 80% of the water used by other irrigation methods and fertilizes crops via irrigation water, resulting in a more efficient use of fertilizer and likely reducing groundwater contamination. The drip tube or tape wets a continuous strip along the row and has outlet holes typically spaced 8 to 12 inches apart for vegetable crops.

When using the plasticulture system, it is important to install a drip irrigation system properly, use plastic mulch effectively, manage the nutrients and fertilizers carefully, regularly check and clean the irrigation filters, and ensure that the planting holes in the plastic are large enough for the plants.

With plasticulture, seed germination can be 7 to 14 days faster in most cases. For certain crops like green beans, it can be 2 to 3 days faster, as the plastic warms up the soil and creates a more favorable environment for germination.

Different colored plastic mulches have unique benefits for different types of plants. For example, white plastic is used for reflecting heat and is therefore suitable for cool weather crops that growers wish to extend the season for, such as English peas. Black plastic warms the soil by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for warmth-loving plants like watermelon, cantaloupe, and okra in colder climates. Red plastic is considered beneficial for tomato plants, and blue is said to be better for cantaloupe. Clear plastic conducts heat even more than black plastic, but it lacks weed-blocking capabilities.

One of the challenges is ensuring that the soil can warm without overheating to prevent plant burn, especially during midsummer. To address this, it is recommended to purge the water line or only water early in the morning. Another challenge is to achieve a high rate of seed germination which may require a light watering once per day until sprouts appear and ensuring the holes in the plastic mulch are appropriately sized for plant sprouting.