Solarization, Experiment

In previous years, when I prepared and tilled the NE Garden Plot 1, I would get a green blanket of weeds before it was time to plant. Meant I would have to either hoe or re-till the garden! After a bit of research I learned about solarization. This involves putting a layer of plastic down for a few weeks to both heat the soil and kill the weed seeds. Often clear plastic is used but I ended up with black plastic and am just going with it. From my reading you can actually get soil temperatures up to 120 degrees with clear plastic after four to eight weeks. Not necessary to get that hot of temps for my purposes. I just want to prevent the weeds from getting established because once I plant I am going to mulch heavily which will further inhibit weed growth!

The first step was to clear the garden of last year's corn plants. Those were used to much between a row of potatoes (planted two weeks ago). First a layer of cardboard, then the corn stalks (many people would have shredded them first but I have had luck with getting them to decompose doing it this way), and then a layer of hay from last year's hay bales.

Finally, after a bit of time, the garden was cleared! Well not completely cleared as there is still the hay mulch I had applied last year. That I just tilled under.

Before I tilled I sprinkled the ashes from the fire pot (potash fertilizer) and also applied another nitrogen fertilizer.

As shown, by the top image, I rolled out the plastic and weighed down with some tires. Will keep an eye out to make sure the wind isn't able to pick it up but now will let it sit for at least two weeks while I prepare other gardens for planting!