Crop Protection
Latest stories
More stories
-
Cold Frame Calendar
A cold frame is a bottomless box with a clear or translucent top. It is set on the ground or over a planting bed to capture solar energy and heat the air, soil, and plants inside. A cold frame can extend the growing season by one to several months. A cold frame can keep plants […] More
-
in Tips
Shade Cloth Hoop Tunnels Protect Vegetables
A hoop tunnel can create instant shade to protect leafy greens and other cool-season vegetables from the intense summer sun. Cover half hoops made of PVC pipe, stiff wire, or construction- or chicken wire with shade cloth or light horticultural cloth to keep leafy crops from sun-burning. Good Products for Season Extension at Amazon: For […] More
-
Mulch: Hot Weather Vegetable Garden Protection
Mulch reduces evaporation from the soil surface, moderates soil temperature, and insulates roots from summer heat (and winter cold). Mulch suppresses weeds, reduces soil compaction, prevents erosion, and adds organic matter to the soil. Mulch is any material that protects the soil surface and allows air and water through. Organic mulches–mulches derived from plant materials–not […] More
-
Shade: Hot Weather Vegetable Garden Protection
Vegetable crops should be protected from temperatures much greater than 95°F (35°C). Most vegetables will be stressed when temperatures rise to 100°F and many will die in sustained temperatures greater than 110°F. Signs of heat stress in vegetables include wilting at the ends of new growth, blossom drop, leaf drop, and sunburn of leaves and […] More
-
Vegetable Seedling Protection
Protect vegetable seedlings planted in the garden from cool and cold nighttime temperatures. Protect warm-season seedlings such as tomatoes and peppers from temperatures below 55°F. Protect cool-season seedlings such as lettuce and cabbage from temperatures below 45°F. Cages and tunnels covered with plastic are quick ways to protect crops and extend the warmth needed for […] More
-
Extending the Season: how to get more time out of your garden
There are proven ways to extend the growing season. Season extension is the garden term for growing crops outside of the natural growing time Mother Nature gives each year. Days and nights with frost or freezing temperatures are not part of the natural growing season. But very cold weather does not mean you can’t keep […] More