Using covers in spring for an increase in growth

00:00 Introduction
01:00 Examples of new plantings growing strongly under fleece cover.
03:48 Examples of autumn plantings which are growing strongly without covers
04:56 Comparing synthetic fleece with cotton muslin
09.54 I show a mesh cover and thermacrop too

Spring can challenge us with low temperatures which prevent new growth. Winter root vegetables are running out, and May is the 'hungry gap', between old and new harvests.
*Subtitles and translations by 3rd May 💚

Spring offers good light levels in its longer days, yet often lacks warmth. New plantings in cold weather may stay small, even struggle to survive. Covers square the circle converting spare light to the warmth that plants are lacking.

Covers I recommend include horticultural fleece of 25 to 30gsm/1 oz per yard approximately, and cotton muslin or toile if you have some of that. A cover directly on or suspended over plants increases growth in three ways:

by sheltering plants from wind
by increasing warmth when there is sunshine
by protection from pests.

A fleece cover does not actually keep out all frost, as I notice regularly here. For example three days after making this video, I removed a frozen cover of 30gsm “frost fleece” which was on lettuce, and many lettuce leaves were actually frozen. Fortunately this was -1.3C /29F and not like a hard winter frost. By 9:30 am, we were picking leaves from those plants and they were very tasty! If the lettuce had been French beans or courgettes, it would have been end of story.

Find out more in Module 2 of my second online course https://charlesdowding.co.uk/product/...

Many horticultural suppliers sell covers of fleece, mesh and thermacrop. There is a good range here https://www.gardening-naturally.com/3...

The hoops you see our 4 mm high tensile, galvanised steel, from Reddifast Steels   / reddifaststeels  

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