Boosting Tomato & Strawberry Plants with Red

You can give tomato and strawberry plants a boost with a good dose of ... colour!

Credit: Lee Valley Tools

Research has shown that red plastic mulch will increase yields by up to 20 per cent over black mulch.

The secret is in the colour. The red mulch reflects a certain spectrum of light back to the plants – this makes the plants release a colour-sensitive protein that in turn stimulates growth and development.

So in addition to its traditional role of conserving moisture and warming the soil, this mulch multi-tasks by influencing yields as well. Super Red Mulch is available from Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com).