FarmI wrote
Rod Speed wrote
FarmI wrote
David Hare-Scott wrote
Rod Speed wrote
FarmI wrote
Jeßus wrote
Jeßus wrote

Based on past experiences, I tend to agree with the lady author you know.

Hard to put into words why - perhaps it just 'beds down'
better compared to the stiffer, fresher/bulkier material and
so forms a more effective covering, whilst at the same time
providing some organic material, bacteria etc. to the soil
more quickly?

Is what you you are using straw of hay? The two are not the
same, they come form different sources, have different content
and behave differently.

Hmm...

Well, So far I've been using a random mixture of small
quantities of straw/hay since moving here rather than a
consistent type of hay or straw from a regular source. I'll be ordering a large amount pretty soon though.

I *have* recently used a few bales of fresh 'oat straw', which
I've found is good to protect freshly transplanted plants
(especially sensitive young seedlings) from the sun and wind.

All seedlings will do better with some mulch rather than none.

Thats very arguable if you dont care about the water use.

I don't want to argue for the sake of it but even if you have an
infinite supply of cheap water you cannot always be there to apply
it and timers do not adapt to weather conditions unless you have a
very sophisticated setup with moisture sensors. Mulch will help
retain moisture and cool the soil, both are useful, without attention. Also as mulch degrades it feeds the soil and
improves its texture.

I think where I live the application of fine mulch to seedlings
would be that it evens out the soil temps as we can get stinking
hot days followed by cold night and seedlings aren't too fond of
wide swings in temp.

Thats nothing like your original ALL SEEDLINGS WILL DO BETTER.

I was responding to something David wrote but since you have harked
back to an earlier posting, just for you, I will amend what I wrote. All seedlings will do better with some mulch
rather than none and
there are a multiplicity of reasons why.

You can repeat that till you are blue in the face if you like, its still just plain wrong.

The other thing I find is exactly as you say - moisture is available to the seedlings without the feast or famine
that happens with no mulch.

Not necessarily with automated watering.

Please read what I actually wrote rather than what you imagine I wrote.

Everyone can see what you wrote.

You have no idea whatsoever what watering system I have,

You have always been, and always will be, completely and utterly irrelevant.

What watering system you have in spades.

Your original was not just about your situation, it was a general absolute statement.

or what quantities of water I have available and therefore can have absolutley no idea of what my findings are unless
I tell you. I have told you what I find.

You have always been, and always will be, completely and utterly irrelevant.

What watering system you have in spades.

Your original was not just about your situation, it was a general absolute statement.