Deridger

What is floating row cover? It’s a type of material that is placed over plants. Use it to exclude pests, act as a wind barrier and extend the vegetable growing season. It does these things by creating a micro-climate under the row cover. In addition, it’s a good tool to use if you are growing an organic garden because it’s an alternative to pesticide usage. In this article, we will explore the types of material and learn how to use a floating row cover.

The author is assistant professor, department of dairy science, Virginia Tech. Farmer Ellen (right) showing her corn silage that is gently packed into a 55-gallon trash bag.Last June, I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya, Africa. This was my first time in Africa. I traveled mainly from Nairobi to Nakuru. Nakuru is located within the Rift Valley and is characterized as a humid area. To offer some perspective, rainfall was approximately 38 inches per year. The Kenyan dairy industry incl

In my books, The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener and Growing Under Cover, I write extensively about the row cover hoops I use to stretch the harvest season in my vegetable garden. I use them to get a head start on spring planting, but also in autumn to protect from frost and cold weather. Simple row cover hoops can also be used during the growing season to shelter vegetable plants from pests like flea beetles, potatoes beetles, and squash bugs, or even larger pests like rabbits, deer, and birds. 

Climate and the environment impact the conditions which affect the natural cycle of cultivation. Sometimes it is necessary to employ row covers and other materials to protect plants from the elements. Read on since we have researched which vegetables need row covers. Garden fabrics or row covers are primarily used to extend the growing season and increase crop yield by regulating the temperature and incidentally protect plants from weather and pest damage. Most vegetables benefit from their o