Row Cover -Johnny's Select Seeds Picture
With the unpredictable weather we have had this spring, chilly mornings and evenings, and even frost warnings at the end of May in some locations, many of us have been scrambling to keep tender plants from too much exposure. A discussion of floating row covers is a timely subject. I am always surprised to learn that many gardeners are unaware of this great multipurpose tool.
Made of spun bonded, light weight, polyester, know by the trade names of Reemay, Typar, Grow Guard, or Agro Fabric, floating row covers have been used for agricultural crop production for over 30 years.
The covers can be used in the spring and fall to extend the growing season and in the summer as a shade for cool season crops and as a deterrent to many destructive insects and even some garden critters.
The fabric is available in varying weights, from a very light 0.45 oz. per square yard, mid range weights of 0.60 and 1.25, up to a heavier 1.5 oz per square yard blends. The fabrics light transmission rates vary with thickness (weight) from 90% transmission for the lightest to 50% for the heavier material. When used as a season extender the heavier weights provide frost protection up to 7 degrees while the lighter material varies between 2-6 degrees of frost protection. I have found that most of the material lasts at least two growing seasons and usually longer.
Its light weight make is easy put down when we get those frost warnings. It’s also very useful to protect crops from drying winds and as it is permeable so rain/irrigation gets right through to the plants, it also helps to conserve soil moisture.
Row covers are wonderful for keeping some of the peskiest vegetable pests at bay. The light weight fabric is great to put down over young plants and seedlings. Potato beetles are prevented from laying their eggs on the young plants protected by row covers. Keep broccoli under wraps and prevent the pesky cabbage moth from landing, leaf miners are kept off of the beet greens and carrot flies don’t find the carrots and root maggots on brassicas are easily controlled this way too.
Properly covered and anchored the blankets can also discourage small mammals such as rabbits and birds from eating seedlings and small plants.
For this kind of protection I cover the row with the floating row cover and tuck the edges into the soil of the bed as a barrier to the invading pests. For new plantings leave a good amount of slack in the cover to allow for growth of the plants underneath. As the plants grow they lift the light weight row cover. Or one can fashion heavy wire or similar material to make hoops over the plantings. The hoops keep the row cover off of the seedlings.
It’s easy enough to lift the fabric when you need to cultivate and check on progress of your plantings. In mid summer I often just drape the lightest weight cover over lettuce and other leafy greens. If the edges are not secured it allows good air circulation and provides nice shade to help keep these plants cooler.
Row Cover over Hoops
LA
June 14, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Where did you get the hoops? They are very expensive if I find them online and I don’t know what to use to make my own. I am being invaded by grasshoppers.
June 16, 2009 at 12:00 am
Purchased hoops aren’t necesary. You can just leave room for the plants to grow as you position the row cover. You could also bend some thin sapling branches to form hoops.