A layer of mulch vitalizes the growth of tomatoes and suppresses annoying weeds. Not every material is suitable as a mulch in the tomato bed. Find out here about the best ground cover in beds and greenhouses.
Tomato plants like this mulch
In the tomato bed, mulching simulates the natural material cycle. In the wild, there are rarely free areas of land. Rather, leaves, grass and withered plant parts collect here, which soil organisms process into valuable humus. Traditionally, amateur gardeners therefore use an adequate cover of the soil to promote soil fermentation and keep weeds in check. These materials have proven themselves:
- Nettle leaves from non-flowering or seed-bearing plants
- Tomato leaves that result from pinching or pruning
- Grass clippings after they wither
- Compost, well matured, enriched with horn shavings
- Foliage, preferably from beech, maple and birch
- Straw as a top mulch layer to prevent splashing water when watering
Spread the mulch material between the tomato plants, creating a layer 2 to 3 centimeters thick. Stacking higher will attract uninvited guests, such as voles or snails. The root area remains uncovered within a radius of 10 centimetres. If you fertilize with nettle manure, the mulch layer is regularly loosened. Otherwise there is a risk of rot and mold.
Not recommended mulch material in the tomato bed
Various natural products for mulching have proven themselves in ornamental and kitchen gardens, but they have a counterproductive effect when growing tomatoes.
- Bark mulch removes nitrogen from the soil and causes the pH value to drop into the acidic range
- Straw, unsuitable as the sole mulch (€239.00) because the soil is deprived of nutrients
- Sawdust is often contaminated with impurities from furniture construction
Not all foliage is suitable to act as ground cover under tomato plants. The leaves of oak and chestnut trees not only decompose extremely slowly, but also lower the pH value of the soil.
tips and tricks
A luxury mulch material comes under the name Toresa Protect. Thanks to a balanced mixture of wood fibre, compost and bark mulch, tomato plants benefit from this soil cover in a complex way. Nutrient supply, weed suppression and defense against voracious snails go hand in hand here.