you might have to pick them a little early to get one that does not get soft.........I like to use the black ground cloth and a little mulch around but not touching the plant, when we amend the soil before planting we mix in lime, hay, leaves, old grass, very old manure and mulch. We had problems one year when we had a lot of rain. Also if you have egg shells,,,,,,,,,,,,,and an old blender..........put 1 cup water in the blender & break the eggs shells and drop in and blend very good pour around the plants.