[Stratts]

Again I've been fortunate to (ahem!) acquire a good supply of black woven weed membrane through my works which has kept a good proportion of weeds at bay during the winter on my plot.

Are there any plants that would benefit from growing through slits in the fabric on the plot? 

Thinking of growing sweetcorn this year so for example could I lay a block of it down and let them grow through, keeping the weeds at bay between the stems?

I can get plenty so will have enough at the end of the year without holes to put down over winter again,

Cheers

[TerryB]

You can grow most plants thru it but it makes a lovely hiding place for slugs.

[Stratts]

Ah thanks mate I never thought of that, showing my inexperience now!!

[Stratts]

Thought I'd resurect (sp) this thread to ask whether the membrane would be good to use around certain plants for moisture retention as well as keeping weeds at bay?

For example as a base layer for a munty frame or to plant my peas through, courgettes, squashes, etc.  Basically anything of a good size that will be in the ground a while??

[Yorkie]

Yes, but I wouldn't for peas unless you just lay the membrane to one side of them, and another piece the other side.

I'd make sure I watered properly underneath first so that there is moisture to be retained.  Extra mulch will aid water retention further.

The one snag I always think there must be with growing through membrane, is that once you've cut the holes for the individual plants, you're committed to always growing crops of that size / spacing through that piece of membrane (which I imagine you rotate), if you want to keep the membrane for reuse that is.

[sarajane]

We've grown some great onions the last 2 years through membrane.  Really cuts down on hours of weeding (and knocking onions over etc when doing so).

Just get the odd ones popping through. Wished we'd done it years ago.

[bigben]

I have also grown onions, garlic, and squash through weed fabric. Mine is porus so there is no problem with water getting through it. I also use it around fruit bushes to keep down the weeds. I lift it once in the season to mulch and give them a feed and put it back. This is for blackcurrents and goosberries - it would not work for rasberries. I have heard of people using it for strawberries. This year I have been offered a couple of beds on a friends allotment and plan on using it to cover the area between rows of beans so I have less weeding to do.

[Stratts]

Thanks guys I'll use it between rows of beans, peas, etc and on my strawberry bed.  Don't have a problem with supply as we use rolls of the stuff at work!!  I have enough to cover the whole plot over winter!!