I'm testing to see if cedar really prevents germination in vegetable seeds, and if so, will a biodegradable barrier such as cardboard help the seedlings germinate? To test, josh built me two cedar boxes, a cubic foot in volume each. One is lined with cardboard on the inside, one is just soil against the planks.
In each box I've placed seeds for vegetables that grow best directly sown into the soil: carrots (8 in each box), beets (6 in each box), bush beans (2) and pole beans (2). The seeds are new this year and are growing well in other established beds already.
If the seeds germinate at the same rate but poorly, i will know that cedar really does inhibit germination and a biodegradable barrier will not help germination.
If the seeds germinate well and at the same rate, i will know that cedar does not negatively impact germination and cardboard is not required.
If the seeds do not germinate at the same rate, i will know that either cedar or cardboard inhibits germination.
To control mitigating factors, I've filled each box with the same mix: homemade compost, coir, vermiculite, crushed eggshells, and the Solomon's fertilizer mix, recioe from the Territorial seed company book. The beds are also next to each other so they have the same solar exposure and micro-climate. I will also keep them on the same watering regime.
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