85% light, air and water transmission so no need to remove during the day. Reusable year after year.
Floating Row Covers Uses
Lightweight floating row cover has many uses in the garden. Use without hoops to lay directly on the bed or use with hoops to support the cover which lends itself for even more uses.
New Plantings: Cover new planting for the first 10-14 days after planting to protect while emerging or becoming established. Lay it right on top of plants or sown seeds or use hoops. Hold in place with anchor bags or large rocks. It protects the newly-planted seedlings from direct sunlight, drying winds, and damage from pests such as birds, rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Remove the cover once plants are established or newly sprouted seeds have reached 3-4”.
Protect from Pest Damage: Hoop and cover plants immediately following planting to prevent exposure to insects. We have controlled or eliminated damage on squash plants from squash bugs, beans from the bean beetle, potatoes from potato beetles and strawberry losses from birds.
Season Extension: Although the cover is lightweight, it offers enough protection to allow an early start and to extend the season. Used with hoops, it creates what is called a low tunnel. The tunnel provides excellent protection from the cold wind and creates a more hospitable growing environment. The cover provides 4 degrees of protection. I often use a double layer for additional protection.
Early Season: For maximum benefit prepare your early spring garden space in the fall. Mulch, hoop and cover the empty bed to lay in wait for your early spring planting. In spring pull back mulch for seed sowing or plant transplants through the mulch. The soil will be warmer and better equipped to receive the planting. Leave cover on until warmer temperatures arrive.
Late Season: Fall-planted cool-season plants can perform longer into the fall and winter with a little added protection–excellent for the salad garden. Plant the fall garden and cover when nights begin to drop in the 40’s. Remove the covers during the day if temperatures climb.
Flowers: When fall-planted hardy annuals that are intended to winter over as young plants to become established for spring blooming are covered all winter they will grow into more robust plants. They will produce more and begin blooming earlier than those without covers. Winter hoops and cover also provide excellent protection from deer. We fall-plant strawberries here in zone 7 and keep them covered from planting until the following May harvest.
Purchase Floating Row Cover 6.5’ x 50’ PP302 $26.95
Hi, Lisa. I’ve planted a fall garden of vegetables and flowers in a raised garden bed. The garden is covered with a floating row cover, and all of the seeds have germinated. Was hoping to keep the row cover on all the way through harvest…would that be OK? My concern is squirrels, rabbits and other critters.
Hi Rosie! Yes you can leave it on– if we hit some hot days think of venting it to prevent overheating.
LZ
Hi Lisa,
When do you use a row covering versus a plastic covering? Is there anything special about greenhouse plastic versus regular plastic sheeting or vapour barrier?
Also, I recently purchased your seed starting course and heard you mention that T5s will fry your seeds – I have LED T5s I bought until my ‘regular’ T8 bulbs arrived, will the LEDs still become too hot? I don’t feel the heat on them at the end of the day but have left them 3-4″ above my seedlings just in case! Thank you in advance.
Kendra I don’t use any plastic on tunnels only row cover— so cant answer the plastic question.
Putting your hand under the light should tell if getting to hot. Ours are fluorescent and get really hot.
Lisa
Hi Lisa! I have used a pipe bender from Johnny’s for some hoops, but this year I am trying the 9 gauge wire that you suggested in Cool Flowers. How do you get your wire so smooth? Mine came tightly coiled and it looks awful when I’m making hoops. Any suggestions? Thank you for all your great info. 😊
I also used a bender but now have pre-arched. We now offer them: https://www.thegardenersworkshop.com/product/pre-arched-76-inch-plant-support-wire-hoops/
Lisa
Just a question about snow cover. Would the cover fall under the weight of snow and ice storms? Can or should you use greenhouse plastic instead for snow and winter protection?
Remove the row cover when snow is forecasted. I don’t use plastic, it is totally different way and issues.
Lisa, we are expected to get 1-3” of snow tonight, ending at 4 am. Should I be worried about leaving the frost cloth off when the temps will be ~27degrees?
Always remove row cover for snow. It will collapse and can smother plants.