So, everywhere I read,including here, seems to agree that mulch is the answer.
I added a few bags of compost tilled into my garden for this year. It sounds like the straw, horse manure, winter compost that was mentioned and I can confirm that the manure turns to a brick. So does my soil.
I've planted everything, chard, lettuce, beans, salad mixes etc, a few days ago. VERY hard crusty soil, so I want to mulch it asap, but (like the crusty soil) will the mulch prohibit the seedlings from emerging? should I mulch the whole bed or just my rows, etc?
Thanks in advance folks.