sustainablysavvy Why do my salad greens bolt so fast on the green roof but not in the beds below? Tried a simple setup on the shed with a 4-inch soil layer and the usual compost mix. Same seeds, same sun exposure. They push flowers way before I get decent leaves.
freshurbanair That thin 4-inch layer up top probably heats and dries out faster than the deeper beds, stressing the roots into bolting even with the same sun. Adding more organic matter for moisture hold might slow it without changing the seeds.
sustainablysavvy freshurbanair, the thin layer does dry out fast like you said, even with the compost mix. Haven’t added more yet though, the shed roof can’t take much extra weight.
greenthumb42 That roof weight limit is a real headache for sure. A light straw mulch on top could trap moisture and cut the drying without adding bulk underneath, and it breaks down into the soil over time too.
sustainablysavvy Haven’t tried straw mulch yet, the shed roof slopes so it would probably slide right off anyway. Still stuck on the weight limit stopping deeper soil.