Agree. The red mulch has come up for discussion here several times in the past and with few exceptions most found it to be not worth the price (to put it nicely :-).

Dave

Ditto Dave and Carolyn

I bought some years ago.

I had 2 rows of tomatoes one with the red plastic and one with straw, no difference in production.

But don't take that as a don't use mulch suggestion. Mulches control weeds, hold moisture in soils, and influence soil temps. I prefer an organic mulch, but I have used plastic and cloth mulches before. For the most part, any mulch will increase plant yield and health, whether that be a red plastic or other mulch.

Kevin

See, now this is why I love this forum! I heard about red mulch years ago and considered buying it, but then the reality of its "effectiveness" was exposed, and I went with homegrown organic mulches instead. My tomatoes produce just fine, and who knows how much money I've saved :). Thank you Dr. Carolyn!

Thanks everyone! I was looking at the red plastic on my order form tonight. I was nice to read your opinions. I use a water/air permeable fabric mulch. I have a tight budget and decided to skip the red stuff until more results are in..Instead I will try the beneficial organisms to improve thee soil culture or the good insects.

Can you say 'Snake Oil?'

Mulch needn't be plastic or membrane. I use grass clippings to good effect. Others use straw, hay and other natural stuff. Not knocking plastic or overly promoting natural stuff, just pointing out options. The fact that grass clippings are FREE is an extra bonus in my mind. At the end of the season, I dig all those clippings in the ground for added organic material...double bonus!

whadya mean 'grass clippings are FREE' … it takes a modicum of effort to mow, and then gather them there puppies up … that isn't free.

^_^

dave

Plastic mulch (black or red/pink) is mostly effective early in the season that plants are small and don't shade much. But ones they get bigger the solar altitude is higher and plants shade most of the bed and very little direct sun will hit the plastic. UNLESS you have wide spacing and trim a lot of foliage.
Another thing is , how can really measure 5 to 10% increase in production. Say, normally a plants produces 30 tomatoes. 5 to 10% will be like be 1.5 to 3 tomatoes ??? Big deal !!

Seysonn