Hi Sparky, welcome to the GardenWeb. If we knew what you were growing, and where you were growing it, we might figure out why you were using burlap in the process. Al

Good point. Sorry! Im using interbay muk h method of soil building. Ive found 2 coffee sack method also works well as a permanent weed block on my raised beds..either so week I can grÃÂ b them or dont come at all. I cut through for transplants. IMm trying to figure out how to keep with the direct seed vegatables like carrots beets etc. ...I want to use the same way around the seedlings. So...do i germinate under the sacks the cut room for the....or cur a small hole to put seed down in the bit of seed start organix mix I will use for just the seed area...or cut a x that seedlings might push thru...Im thinking burlap can prevent seeds washing away. I am using a square root plan for the beds. Does that help? Im in the mountains of east TN. (Johnson City). Thanks all.

Well Sparky gardening in raised beds, using the square foot method, plus growing carrots and beets, I cannot see a reason for the burlap. The advantage of the raised bed, 'good soil' and the square foot method 'up close and maximum use of the space' weed removal should not a problem. Carrots are always overwhelmed by weeds because the weeds will germinate so much faster. For the gardener this means planting in a row so you know where the carrots will appear and weeding away everything not in that row. When the carrots do show up, you will still have to remove the weeds from among the carrots. Where I used to live, carrots were grown in 10 to 20 acre plots in double rows on raised berms. Water was applied in the furrows and wicked up to the top of the berms. The entire area would soon be covered with weeds without any carrots in sight. Now the aerial crop duster would arrive with herbicide and wipe out the weeds in a few passes. For the home grower pulling the weeds is still the best choice. Al

Thanks so much calistoga, your input is valuable. I can see your point and why you are saying what you are. I appreciate very much the thought you put into your answer. Perhaps that would be best.

However...I'd like to try with the burlap. I may be being foolish but do value the burlap (2 used coffee bags which is essentially 4 layers of burlap as recommended by the Interbay mulch system) not only for weed minimization but as the mulch to allow gentle watering of beds (even hard rains drip through slowly controlling washing) and keeps moisture levels even.

So....I'd still like to try to germinate the seeds and use the burlap as mulch and not pull the burlap away. I may just be like the kid that has to learn the hard way but that acknowledged...it I still need advice on the seeds...my plan for the transplant is cut thru and plant..

BUT for the SEEDS....Would it be best to 1. plant the seeds under the burlap and cut a hole or slot or cross to allow the newly germinated seeds to continue with the burlap as their mulch

2. cut a cross or slot in the burlap, plant, and allow that to be the hole the seeds push through that

3. Cut a little hole where the plant goes and plant there like that

The advantage of the first it seems to me would be protecting from washing away of the seed and I know some light gets through the burlap...I've also had one person suggest cutting a cross and pinning the flaps however which seems also to have advantages but a lot of work.

Which method or variation do the experts here recommend....given I'd like to try this to retain what I consider to be the benefits of the burlap as mulch over straw and other options.

HELP! It's almost time to plant.

THANKS....

Hey Sparky, experiment all you like, its fun. Most of my experiments are a disappointment, but I usually learn something. Al