Minimum and maximum temperature during planting, plant development and harvesting were 12 and 37oC, respectively. Mulch affected number of days to flowering, plant length, number of days to the first harvest, number of fruit per plant, average fruit weight, early yield, total yield and broomrape infestation percent. Planting method affected the number of days to flowering, plant length, number of days to harvesting and early yield. The mulch by planting method interaction affected number of days to flowering, plant length, number of days to harvesting and early yield (Table 1).