Tag Archives: mulch

Lavender Crop Update – June 12, 2026

Despite warmer weather over the past two weeks, it still appears that lavender bloom is behind schedule. Normally, the first blooms on the earliest cultivars begin to open in Simcoe around June 15-18. This year, bud heads are just beginning … Continue reading

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Lavender Crop Update – Row Spacing, Heat and Crop Reminders – June 28, 2024

Lavender bloom continues to be well ahead of normal. In Simcoe the lavandins are coming into full bloom, whereas angustifolias are mostly at or past peak bloom. Row Spacing Considerations The lavender plot at Simcoe is on two side-by-side 4.5 … Continue reading

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Black Plastic: Is there a Viable Organic Mulch Alternative?

Black plastic mulch is widely used in the production of specialty vegetable crops due to its effectiveness as a weed barrier, capability to conserve soil moisture and ability to warm soil temperatures in spring.   Although it is permitted in organic … Continue reading

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Ginseng Research Update: Effects of Mulch Type on Ginseng Yield

In 2011, we established a research plot in a commercial ginseng field near Turkey Point to test different straw mulch treatments (Figure 1). The treatments included straw of rye, oat and wheat. For all of these treatments, any grains contained … Continue reading

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Using Plastic Mulches for Weed Control in Lavender

Weed control is the single largest labour requirement for lavender production. There are no herbicides registered for control of weeds in lavender, and therefore they have to be controlled by hand. However, mulches can be used to greatly reduce the labour … Continue reading

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Effect of Straw and Volunteer Grain on Ginseng

By Sean Westerveld and Melanie Filotas, OMAFRA A trial was established in 2011 in a commercial ginseng field to examine the impact of different types of straw on ginseng growth and susceptibility to pests. Rye and wheat are considered to … Continue reading

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