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Tiny Farm Forum » How-to in the field

1. cdevries
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   I have always used wire hoops to support floating row cover, even though I was under the impression that it wasn't necessary for most crops. Is that true? Specifically with brassicas, can I just transplant them then lay the cover over loosely?

   I tried this with my last planting of broccoli and it's all dead now. It could have something to do with the 2 days in a row of 50 km/hr winds we had this past week. The row cover was flapping pretty hard up and down on the transplants. I don't really want to do this again unless I hear that others normally do this. On the other hand I find using the hoops to be a pain now that I am growing a lot more.

   Chris

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. Mike (tfb)
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   I've never used hoops or other support, and I've had no problems. I regularly use floating row cover at both ends of the season, on brassicas, cucurbits, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.

   I use Agribon AG-19 (a medium weight) for everything, in 50'x14' strips.

   Cold-burned seedlings under cover: On some nights, dew collects on the cover, and if there's quite a bit of moistures and it freezes, it's like putting an ice pack on the seedlings where the row cover comes in contact. This has never been serious. This year, after two really cold nights, many of the first tomatoes I put out were really burned this way, some with all of their leaves toasted. But even the worst hit came back after around 10 days, developing new growth, and now they're doing well. I'm not sure if this has even set them back at all. But, when putting seedlings out with real cold nights expected, what I used to do (and won't forget to do again) is stick a few short stakes, like the 12" wooden plant markers I use, down the row to tent the cover up. It only takes half a dozen of these on 50' to keep the cover generally clear of new seedlings. It's real quick, and they're easy to remove without taking off the cover (to lower the wind profile and avoid tearing).

   Hope that helps.

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. cdevries
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   Yes, that does help. I suspected that would be your answer.

   I'm not sure what happened to the broccoli then (definitely wasn't a cold problem). I suspect it may have dried out too much and the wind blowing the cover didn't help. I will continue trying the no support method.

   The supports definitely seem to be hard on the covers, even if they are just hoops. They cause them to blow around a lot in the wind.

   Chris

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. organicsheri
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   I have read that if the plant has growing tips, such as peppers, you absolutely need supports. Interesting that you have found the opposite Mike. But maybe that's b/c you only use it at the ends of the season. I put my cabbages under row cover, the least heavy kind...AG-15 perhaps? can't remember...and they did horribly under there. I took the cover off two days ago and am really disappointed with their 'progress'. I left 6 cabbages outside of the row cover and they look better, but all 6 had cabbage moth larvae eating them up. So, what to do, huh? I put diatomatious (sp) on them all, as well as the brocc and cauli to try to protect them from the dreaded butterfly but I don't know if it'll work or not. One can only hope. Oh yeah, and now it's raining (again) so I'll have to re-apply the dia earth anyway. :)

   Posted 2 years ago #

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