Winter Growing & Season Extension

Video: The Benefits of Row Covers | Recommendations & Tips


Hi, I'm Niki Jabbour, and as you can probably tell, summer has come to an end and autumn has arrived in my garden.

The days are shorter, the nights are cooler, and it won't be long before we have that first frost. This is a time when I'm prepping for season extension, and one of my favorite tools for season extending is row cover.

Row cover, also called garden fleece, is widely used by both gardeners and market farmers to extend the homegrown harvest, shelter crops from frost and other types of inclement weather, promote good seed germination, and prevent pests, both big and small, from nibbling on your crops. These lightweight fabrics are made from spun-bonded polypropylene and allow light, air, and water to pass through to the plants.

Row Cover Weights

There are various weights available, with the lightest best suited for pest prevention and the heaviest for cold protection. Let's look closer at some of the options you'll find when buying row covers.

First up, we have Agribon+ AG-15, a very lightweight grade row cover used for insect and critter control. It weighs just 0.45oz/yd², and I use it on top of crops like potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, arugula, squash, and radishes to stop insect pests. It allows 90% of sunlight to pass through to the vegetables, ensuring vigorous growth.

Next, let's look at Agribon+ AG-19. This is the classic row cover that could be used in so many different ways. It offers 2 to 4 degrees of frost protection, so you can use it to protect crops down to 28°F or -2°C, or to prevent pests like flea beetles, imported cabbage worms, or deer from munching on your vegetables. Agribon+ AG-19 has a weight of 0.55oz/yd² and allows 85% light transmission.

The third row cover option that I wish to share today is Agribon+ AG-30. This is a heavier weight material that offers 4 to 6 degrees of frost protection down to 26°F or -3°C. Use it as an overwintering cover for beds of strawberries, spinach, lettuce and other cool season crops. It has 70% light transmission and a weight of 0.9oz/yd².

When you go to buy row cover, you'll notice that there are a lot of different size options, so choose the one that best suits your needs and matches the size of your garden. You can buy packages or by row cover by the roll. For example, this pack of AG-15 is 118in by 50ft, whereas this role of AG-30 is 83in by 250ft. (I use a lot of row cover.)

How to Float Row Covers

Now that we know more about some of the row cover options out there. Let's look at how we can use them in our gardens. You can float row cover overtop a bed on wire hoops, or other types of hoops, or you can lay row covers directly on top of the plants. However, if I'm using row covers in spring, fall, or winter for frost protection, I prefer to float them. The biggest reason for floating covers is that it can prevent damage to the crops. If a cover is sitting on top of the leaves and there's a hard frost or freeze, it can freeze to the leaves themselves, causing injury. Row covers are floated on hoops and you can use lengths of PVC conduit, or cut #9 wire to the desired length and bend them into a U-shape for a perfect hoop. If you have a low tunnel hoop bender, you can use it to bend metal conduit into heavy duty hoops.

Secure row covers to PVC or metal conduit hoops using snap clamps. For wire hoops, either bare the edges and ends of the fabric or weigh them down using sandbags, smooth rocks, lengths of lumber, or other heavy objects. You can also use anchoring pins, but be aware they do make holes in the fabric and can therefore reduce their lifespan.

Additional Uses

Row covers can also be used in spring to create a microclimate around vegetables, especially warm season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. It gives them a strong head start and encourages healthy, vigorous growth.

I also use row covers in the summer to help me establish succession crops when the weather is hot and dry. They block a portion of the sun, reducing moisture evaporation from the soil and boost germination. Remove them once the seedlings have sprouted and are growing well.

Storing Row Covers

When you're finished with your row covers, hose them off if they're very dirty and hang them up to dry completely. They can then be folded and stored in a dry spot like a garden shed or basement until the next time you need weather or pest protection.

Happy growing!