Near infra-red (NIR)-transmitting plastic mulches transmit between 30 to 50% of the total solar energy to the soil, but block most photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). These mulches warm the soil more effectively than black plastic, but less effectively than clear mulch. Weed growth under NIR-transmitting mulches is suppressed through a combination of lowered light intensity and high temperatures under the mulch surface. With bell pepper and melons, IRT-76, a blue green, NIR-transmitting mulch, enhances growth to about the same extent as black mulch plus a floating rowcover. In turn, rowcover performance is enhanced by IRT-76 as compared to black mulch. In melons, early yield is about doubled and total yields increased by 20 to 30% with IRT-76 as compared to black mulch. Pepper yields are generally higher with IRT-76 as compared to black mulch, but the yield response to IRT-76 is less consistent than with melon.