By Mark Levisay
There are several reasons to cover some of your vegetable beds. In the spring, cabbage moths lay their eggs on brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.). The hatched worms are hard to see and eat voraciously. I’ve found the best way to avoid the cycle, and harvest beautiful, worm-free brassicas is to cover the plants. In the fall, the cover not only keeps the moths away, it also serves as a season extender for plants like beets, lettuce and spinach. The cover acts like a mini-greenhouse and can protect the plants from early frosts.
Row covers keep cabbage worms at bay and provide protection from frost.
Choose the best row cover for the job
I have purchased my row cover products from Gardener’s Supply, but I believe there are other sources. The row cover fabric comes in three “weights” and several sizes. There is “summerweight” fabric, which is the lightest, and allows the most sun to penetrate. I use this product in the spring. All-purpose fabric is a little heavier and allows less sunlight through. This could be used in either spring or fall. The “garden-quilt” fabric is the heaviest of all and is supposed to protect plants down to 24F! This is probably best suited for fall use.
Hoops for support
The metal hoops that support the fabric come in two sizes, “super hoops’ and “hi-rise super hoops”. The standard super hoops easily cover a single row of low growing plants such as lettuce or spinach. For taller plants like broccoli, you probably want the hi-rise hoops which are basically 2 super hoops connected together. These will cover a 4-5’ wide bed about 2 ½’ high, plenty for broccoli and cabbage. After placing the hoops at about 2’ intervals along the bed I wire them together with 17gauge electric fence wire for added stability in the wind.
Wire the hoops together for added stability on windy days.
The sizes available for row cover fabric are 6’x20’, 6’x50’, and 12’x20’. The 6’ wide fabric is fine for the standard smaller hoops, but you really need wider than that for the hi-rise hoops. I usually buy the 6’x50’ product and cut it in half. This allows me to cover a 5’ wide by 20’ long bed, which supports 2 rows of cabbage and broccoli. I use clothespins and other clips to join the two pieces together along the top of the row where the stability wire comes in handy as an anchor point. On the bottom edge I use bricks, rocks, and even tractor weights to keep the fabric on the ground. You’d be surprised how much force the wind can exert on this fabric!
Plan for watering
Soaker hoses are important in the covered bed, as it’s difficult to water individual plants with the cover on, and generally you’ll be leaving the cover in place until harvest. It’s also difficult to weed with the cover in place, so try to start with a weed free bed when the cover goes on.
Soil is prepared and soaker hose laid, ready for planting.
Prepare the soil in your bed and then lay out the soaker hose(s) you need and put up your hoops. Wiring the hoops together will help with stability in the wind. Plant your plants or seeds, water, then cover with fabric. Rain easily penetrates the fabric, so only water with the soaker hose when necessary. Keep an eye on the plants, as tall ones like broccoli may fall over and need support. At harvest you’ll be pleased to have worm free broccoli and cabbage, ready for the kitchen!
Have a garden question? Send me an email at marklevisay@gmail.com.