Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Moldy mulch help!

WisknitcatWisknitcat Posts: 10
in Problem solving

over the weekend I planted my beautiful heirloom tomato plants used organic garden soil and organic compost plus  dried chicken manure I put cocoa mulch around them today I woke up to find mold all the way through the cocoa mulch I cleared out as much of the mulch as I could and sprayed the plants and surrounding soil with an organic fungicide what else can/should I do?   It did not seem to be on the plants as yet.  This only occurred in the areas where I had the Cocoa mulch, not in any uncovered areas of the bed or in beds without cocoa mulch. How did this happen? Please help

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Don't worry, as Jimmy and Edd said here http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/help-moldy-mulch/717080.html - there's absolutely nothing wrong - the mould is just the mulch decomposing as it should do - most moulds are host specific - it will not affect your tomato plants.

    Absolutely no need to treat with fungicide - your tomatoes will be fine. image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • WisknitcatWisknitcat Posts: 10
    I was pretty successful clearing it all out. We had clear sunny skies yesterday so it looks good now. More rain forecasted today and through the weekend so we will see... I certainly won't use cocoa mulch again. We live near one of the Great Lakes here in Wisconsin (Midwest USA) so we have a short season and lots of cool clouds that roll in off the lake. So once mould takes hold it's really a disaster. We have had only limited success in the past with growing tomatoes. Raised beds and hoop covers help. This year we brought in all short season tomato heirlooms that originated in places like Russia Canada and the Pacific Northwest so hoping to get lots. Thanks for your response.
Sign In or Register to comment.