Covering Garden at night?

[hoggs222]

When do you suppose we'll need to cover up the gardens up at night? What do you suppose works best? I've got 4x8 beds with 4' tall posts on each corner. Could I just drape a tarp over it or maybe an old sheet?

[croixflats]

I think were a ways off on the chance of frost though it is a good idea to be prepared in advance.

As for tarping the objective is to trap the heat from the soil in and to prevent direct contact with the cold air.

I think your set up is really good. An old sheet or tarp will work just fine. Keep in mind the closer the tarp is to the plant the less air the ground has to heat up. Sheets are really good because they do not conduct the cold as easily as plastic.

When covering try to create a tent over plants. This traps the heat most efficiently

[Powerstroke]

We've used sheets and blankets with great success. We kept getting tomatos, beans peas and broccoli well into Oct. last year. The hardest part is fitting a large garden, but getting extra posts in the gorund will help.

[dairyman]

I've had two nites of FROST already this week!!!!!!!! Tarps and sheets are what I use.

[NoCal]

its a rite of passage each September/October to break out the old sheets and cover the tomatos..works fine. Can be a pain but it really works well. Then, the old sheets can be dusted off and used for the mother in laws visit.

[Surface Tension]

I've got a large garden and would need a lot of sheets.

For the first couple frosts I'll just turn the sprinkler on.

Works fine.

After that the heat loving plants aren't putting out so its harvest time, which is right around the corner up here.