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Copyright: 2006 Marilyn Pokorney

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Row covers are a matter of choice for gardeners. Some love

them. Others hate them. If larger and more earlier yields

of veggies is a goal then row covers are an excellent

choice.

Row covers come in a wide variety of materials and can be

used as tunnels supported by hoops or as floating covers

which just lie gently on the growing plants.

The lightweight covers are used for keeping insect pests

away from your plants while the heavier ones are used for

frost protection in both the spring and fall.

Whether used with hoops or free floating the edges of the

covers need to be weighted down to prevent them from blowing

away in the wind and to prevent insect pests from getting

under the covers. Weigh the edges down with rocks, bricks,

or anything handy. A row of soil placed on top of the edges

is an excellent and simple method.

Although studies show that most plants do best with hooped

covers there are three plants that require hoops. Tomatoes,

peppers and squash grow large and fast. These plants do

best with hooped covers because the constant rubbing of the

cover on the plants can damage the growing points and break

the large leaves.

Added benefits of using row covers include:

Earlier and larger yields. Plants produce 1 to 3 weeks

earlier than without row covers.

Frost protection of 4 to 7 degrees. Especially in the fall

when the soil is much warmer than it is in the spring. Just

one layer of row cover gives the added protection of moving

the garden by one USDA growing zone.

Pest protection as long as the edges remain weighted down or

buried.

Moisture Retention. The soil doesn't dry out as fast under

the row covers as the temperature isn't as high as without

the cover, and water under the row cover condenses and

returns to the plants and soil.

Wind damage. Plants under row covers suffer less from high

winds.

For more information on gardening with row covers visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/rowcover.htm

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney

Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the

environment.

Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.

Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

Email: Current address on website

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