Should I cover this raised bed with straw?

[trunkman]

I planted beets, radishes, lettuce, spinach and some peas in this bed, should I cover it with a little bit of straw to help keep it moist a protect the seedlings from frost when they begin to sprout?

 

[April Manier]

What zone are you? We're here in Oregon so moisure is not a problem.

 

[trunkman]

I'm in zone 7b.

 

[JimWWhite]

I would normally wait until the seedlings are up tall enough to get through the layer of straw and then mulch them. If you're worried about frost just cover up the bed at night with a large tarp and anchor it with rocks then uncover it the next morning after the frost has dissipated. I''ve found that using straw keeps the soil moist and the weeds down. Just don't use regular hay because of the extra seeds, etc. I always use wheat straw.

 

[April Manier]

Most of those are way hardy, but the lettuce...
When you see sprouts I might lightly straw for a little protection. You'll still get a frost.

 

[beavis]

Lettuce seeds need light in order to germinate.

Wait until the seedlings have sprouted before adding any straw, and then be careful not to smother the seedlings.

Straw does not discriminate between desirable seedlings and weed seedlings.

 

[chris09]

The downside with using straw is that straw (like oat or wheat straw) contain a lot of "weed" seeds.

Chris