I'll let you draw your own conclusion from these past discussions on it. ;)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Red plastic mulch discussions

It works.

The studies were done at Penn State a number of years ago.

Take a look at this
http://plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/P-Mulch.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Plasticulture

Unless you are in San Francisco proper or on the coast, I wouldn't use it if I were you. The plastic would make the soil underneath too hot in the summer in the rest of California. It works best somewhere like Seattle or Portland, where they often need the soil warmed up and the sun reflected onto the tomato leaves. Unless you just want to put it down until May or so, and then remove it?

Carla in Sac

i am about 30 minutes outside of san francisco but our summers can get pretty warm...usually in the 80's but we do get up the the 100's

jean's data link = it is more appropriate to use a reflective mulch to lower soil temps &, as a bonus, deter aphids; also, red mulch benefits were reconsidered since other colors perform better.

PLease read the link Dave gave.

I also discussed in that thread the release of red plastic by Clemson University.

The early estimates for increased fruit production have been downsized considerably although the places advertising it still pull folks in with the initial 15-20% increase in fruit production. The issue never was earlier tomatoes.

One can't compare black to red mulch b'c they have different purposes.

As far as I'm concerned it's phooey unless you're a commercial grower growing only determinate varieties and can leave the large space between rows and plants that's needed so that the light reflective property of the red mulch can work.

Current estimates are for about a 10% increase in fruit production. So if you have a plant that normally gives 20 fruits, statistically you get two more.

Which is trivial for the home grower but not for SOME commercial growers.

Carolyn

Yes, the red craze was big there for awhile - red mulch, red WOW's, red, tomato towers, even red plant ties! Madison Avenue strikes again.

Based on my experience and that of the many who posted in the previous threads, while black mulch has some real benefits for soil warming, red is all phooey and hooey. ;)

Dave

I'm so very very glad to have thought about coming here to read REAL LIFE experience and opinions from people who are growing for their own use, and not for commercial. I get so much more information on what really works from real folks. Thank you to all who share these experiences with us.