ROW COVERS
Row covers are probably the easiest and simplest way to extend your season . Sometimes referred to as frost cloths or shade cloths , they are a lightweight , semi-transparent fabric usually made out of spun-bonded polypropylene or polyester . They come in different sizes and weights . The lightest covers are usually used as insect barriers and don ’ t generally protect from frost . They let about 95 percent of light through and barely weigh anything . Lightweight covers are a little heavier at about a half ounce per square yard . They lock in heat and moisture , so they are useful for starting seedlings in the spring . Plus , they will do a great job protecting your seedlings from insects , birds , and rabbits . They will increase the temperature by about 4 ° F and let about 85 percent of sunlight through to your plants . Medium-weight row covers get a little heavier at 1-1.25 ounces per square yard and can be used to protect your garden from light frosts . They will increase the temperature by about 6 ° F and let about 70 percent of the light through . This isn ’ t enough light for plants to grow , so this type of row cover is best used in the winter months when plants aren ’ t actively growing . Heavyweight row covers are the heaviest option and weigh 1.5-2 ounces per square yard . They will protect plants to 24 ° F and work well for protecting plants in the cold winter months . These will only let up to 50 percent of light transmission through to plants , so this type should not be used when plants are actively growing . When you are using the lightest insect barriers and lightweight row covers to protect seedlings during the actively growing months , you can lay the row covers directly on top of the plants without causing any harm . However , during the cold winter months , when you ’ ll be using medium-weight and heavyweight row covers , leaving the fabric directly on the plants can damage the foliage . You can easily build hoops out of PVC pipe to support the row covers . These hoops are easy to move around the garden as your layout changes each year . Pound a one-foot piece of rebar into the ground and then slide a ½-inch PVC pipe over the top of it to secure the ends of the hoop . Then use clothespins or other clamps to hold the fabric in place on the hoops . You can use rocks , bricks , or long boards to secure the row cover to the ground .
You can use these portable minihoop tunnels to extend your season in the spring . They will trap heat , warm the soil and give your plants frost protection . This way you can start spring crops a few weeks early . This works well for radishes , spinach , lettuce , arugula , carrots , beets , and peas . These same crops can be planted in mid-to-late summer for a fall garden , and these tunnels will extend the length of your fall gardening season . When using these hoop tunnels in the winter , be sure to add a thick layer of mulch to protect your plants even further . You can also double up your protection by putting a hoop tunnel over a cold frame or inside of a greenhouse .
Cold Frames
Cold frames are essentially mini greenhouses within your garden . Just like the hoop tunnels , they capture heat and protect plants from the elements . They are a bottomless box with a glass window or other clear material on top . They can be constructed of wood , cinder blocks , or even straw bales . You can build them to be temporary and moveable or set them in the ground as a permanent structure . Temporary cold frames may not be well insulated enough for greens , however , with a thick layer of mulch they are perfect for root crops . Cold frames that are permanently set in the ground are better insulated and can grow your tender greens . You can also build your cold frame inside of a greenhouse for even more warmth and protection for year-round growing .
“ ONCE THE FROST ARRIVE S ,
YOU ’ LL COVER YOUR CROP WITH A ROW COVER TO PROTECT IT UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO HARVEST IT FOR DINNER .”
32 Maximum Yield