Veggie garden question?

Question

i want to cut back on the grass growing in my veggie bed and maximize the sun exposure for my plants (red tomatos, golden tomatos, green bell pepper, corn, and green beans) so i was thinking... can i cover the exposed mound with tin foil to reflect the sun light and inhibit the grass and weeds from growing?

Answer 1

I think covering the ground with tin foil will cause your veggies to wither and die. Around your tomatoes you may want to consider a red mulch. Supposedly the color red helps the plants produce more. I keep straw bedding in my garden. When it rains it helps hold extra moisture in the soil, but doesn't mold. It's really helped my tomatoes.

Some people use shredded newspaper too.

Answer 2

Price of aluminium, I think not.  Just use newspaper or scrap cardboard.  You don't have to shred it, just put about 6 sheeds down and be sure to overlap the edges by several inches.  You can sprinkle dirt along the edges to hold them down if wind is a problem.  Newspaper might last a season and can be turned into the soil afterwards.

Beware, paper is slippery to walk on.

Answer 3

Using aluminum or tin foil will reflect light, but it can cause hot spots that may cause minor problems.  I don't believe giving the undersides of leaves more light will help too much, but the choice is up to you.  If you really want a more efficient way to reflect light, use mylar or portable emergency blankets instead.  You can find emergency blankets at your camping section at your local Walmart.  Just don't try to fold the emergency blanket back up after you use it. ;)