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Re: Soil Solarization...and asparagus beds

Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

I wouldn't chance losing the asparagus.  You may want to settle for
solarizing within 2 feet of the asparagus.  BTW, late July to mid-August is
the optimum time to solarize in the lower latitudes of the US--south of the
Mason-Dixon line.  Maximum heat will accumulate in the soil.  Don't skimp on
plastic.  Buy the thicker mils (8 mils and up), even though that clear
plastic will cost more.  The thin stuff (3-6 mils) tends to tear easily on
application, splits under the hot sun and more.  The thicker the plastic,
the more moisture stays trapped, too.  An additional note--once you have
solarized, do not disturb more than the top 2 inches of soil to plant.  That
is why it is important to prepare soil for planting before you solarize.
Experiments have shown that if digging is done, weed seeds and destructive
microbes from deeper in the soil will surface--defeating the solarization.
Doreen Howard

-----Original Message-----
From: Janet Wintermute <jwintermute@erols.com>
To: Square Foot Gardening List <sqft@listbot.com>
Date: Thursday, July 13, 2000 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: Soil Solarization...and asparagus beds


>Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
>At 10:21 AM 7/12/00 -0700, bill missen said.
>
>>Doreen-  Thank you for expanding on this subject. I wonder how it will
work
>>up here in zone 3a. I will think about it some more and decide whether to
>>try it for my asparagus bed.
>
>Yes, multi thanks to Doreen for the soil-sterilization Weblink
> > Here is a simple, step-by-step how-to on soil solarization:
>>| http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/solarization.htm
>
>As soon as I checked it out, I wanted to sterilize my currently unoccupied
>raised bed that hubby just weeded.  However, I was afraid for the asparagus
>line I have marching in a single row the full length of that bed, next to
>the back wall.
>
>Apparently bill is thinking about sterilization in relation to HIS
>asparagus bed, too.
>
>Doreen, do you think if the plastic is carefully brought up to a line about
>6 inches away from the asparagus, the temps raised during the sterilization
>period would cook the asparagus roots?
>
>This bed could really use sterilization, but I don't want to jeopardize my
>asparagus plants, which have been in the ground 3 years now and are looking
>good.
>
>--Janet
>
>
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