We’re lucky to have 4 beautiful seasons in Quebec; 4 seasons that can sometimes overlap in one single day! This is a great advantage as it allows for multiple activities throughout the year, and makes for breathtaking landscapes. However, it can also be a stress inducing problem for gardeners. Whether in spring or fall, for some, it is never too late or too early to garden. But, beware of the frost! Frost can be fatal to certain sensitive plants. If you want to garden for a longer time period, consider using thermal protection cover!
What’s a frost protection cover?
Frost protection covers, also known as floating row covers or frost cloths, are pieces of geotextile, usually white or green.You can use them to cover plants when outdoor temperatures, especially at night, are too cold and could jeopardize the plants’ survival. They are particularly useful in spring for experienced gardeners who want to start planting earlier in the vegetable garden, but also for unpredictable late frosts and even for fall, if you want to extend your growing season. Interestingly, since covers designed for this purpose allow a good amount of light to pass through, you can leave a layer of geotextile over your plants at all times. Besides increasing the temperature by a few precious degrees, it also acts as a barrier against animals that are fond of fresh, tender young shoots.
How to use thermal protection covers?
While you can cover plants directly with the cloth, which will make dealing with unexpected frost easier, it’s ideal to create a tunnel with hoops and place the cover over it, creating a slight greenhouse effect. If more heat is needed, cover the geotextile with a layer of plastic and observe the difference. Tunnels can even be created with polyethylene covers, but make sure the plastic doesn’t touch your plants’ foliage. Since plastic conducts cold, it could potentially cause more harm than good!
At the end of the season, when nights get cooler, you can reapply your covers on still-productive but chilly plants like tomatoes. Remove them in the morning so your plants can benefit from the essential sunlight, and put them back on in the evening to keep your plants warm. It’s a bit of work, but it’s worth it to enjoy the last weeks of productivity from your precious garden that has already given you so much.
Homemade Solutions for Frost Protection
Oh no, a frost is predicted and you don’t have your thermal covers on hand! Don’t panic; there are solutions right at your fingertips:
- Use a sheet, tablecloth, or blanket to cover the area you need to protect.
- Place a table over your plants and cover it down to the ground with polyethylene.
- Turn a cardboard box upside down over your plants to create a shelter.
- Water your plants! It may sound odd, but water can provide protection. Lightly irrigate continuously if possible, or give your plants a good watering before the freezing point.
Whether to save your plants or to extend their productivity, thermal covers are invaluable allies for gardeners. Visit our Laval and Brossard locations to get the necessary supplies to combat the cold!
