Vegetable gardening can be incredibly enjoyable and rewarding. Spending time outside tending crops, enjoying fresh produce straight from the garden, and – as is the case in the CKE Community Garden – interacting with fellow gardeners. But it also comes with its challenges, dealing with the vagaries of weather and the impacts of pests and diseases.
At our spring cleanup this year we had a presentation by local garden celeb and author Janet Melrose, who recommended the use of floating row cover as one way to deal with common gardening issues. Sometimes called ‘Reemay’, it is a light, semi-transparent spun-bonded or woven material made out of plastic, polyester, or polypropylene. When laid over newly planted crops, it helps to retain heat and protect from light frost while still allowing light and precipitation through. It also helps protect from birds and squirrels that might dig up seeds.
The row cover can be used throughout the growing season if desired, you just need to find a way to support it above the maturing crops. Floating row cover does a great job of protecting crops from hail and wind, and deterring theft. It can be especially helpful when growing crops like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage that are susceptible to cabbage worms. If you have a crop that requires pollination you will need to either remove the cloth for a period of time, or hand pollinate.
Floating row cover can be found in rolls of various widths and weight. Very light weight cloth may be inexpensive but will likely only last for a single season. Some of the gardeners in the CKE Community Garden have been using a heavier weight cloth for several years with great success. Why not drop by and check it out!
Happy Gardening!
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