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Subj: Re: mounds


In a message dated 9/7/98 9:22:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
DebbynChris@earthlink.net writes:

> Why are plants, and seeds planted in mounds , wouldn`t it be more
>  beneficial to plant at ground level,...moisture/water wise?
>   I have always(this being my first year) planted in mounds , and when I
>  go out and weed or just look, :)
>  the dirt on top is always dry, I normally water every morning, with over
>  head sprinklers,
>   I live in zone 9 ,central Florida, It stays pretty hot here, and the
>  sun dries the top soil fast.
>  I was wanting someone to explain to me the reasons for mounds..
>   If their is know reason other than , "thats the way a row is made",
>  then I think I will try to plant in flat beds...any sugestions????
>   Thanks Chris <zone9>

   If your soil is extremely well drained (sand, gravel) flat probably would
be better, because hilled plantings do dry faster.

   However, in areas with finer soils (clay, silt) and fairly flat fields
(like we have here in eastern SC) water will pond during heavy rains, causing
lots of fungi, and actually kill the plants on occasion. Our rain supply in
the warm season here is irregular. We've had periods of drought, and at least
two times when rain has been in excess of 5" in one day. Especially for fall
crops when moisture often originates from tropical systems, we must plant our
veggies with an eye to protection from ponding.

    Right now I have several hundred hives of bees on pickle cukes
(pollination contracts) and every acre is on raised beds. It's a good thing,
because we just got hurricane/tropical storm Earl through here with 5-10
inches of rain. Fortunately we were already on the dry side and the water
soaked up fairly fast. Another such rain real soon, would take out our fall
crop. They would break down with belly rot.


Pollinator@aol.com     Dave Green  Hemingway, SC  USA
The Pollination Scene:  http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
The Pollination Home Page:    http://www.pollinator.com

Jan's Sweetness and Light Shop    (Varietal Honeys and Beeswax Candles)
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