Winter Garden Prep: Row Covers
The Winter garden is different depending on your hardiness zone. Here in zone 10B, our winters are mild, without freeze. However, we do have different pests and wind. If you protect the garden in Winter, your crops are much more resilient to the elements.
In my own winter garden, I recently installed row covers so that I can have netting to keep aphids, loopers, and squirrels at bay. However, I also purchased some fleece covers in case we do get low temps. Setting this all up was one of the easiest garden projects to date!
The trick with row covers is to be sure that your stakes are wide enough and tall enough to keep the fabric from touching the plants. I bought some stakes that were very malleable, so I just widened them by hand to accommodate for my wide rows. I then cut some mesh to size, draped it over, and fastened it with landscape staples.
In preparation for the rows, there was a bit of timing and work there. First, check all your plants for existing pests. Turn each leaf over, check inside (this is especially important for brassicas, cabbage, etc.), and then remove anything you find. A harsh spray of water will take away aphids, and cabbage loopers can be just pinched off.
Next, water deeply. Then, once dusk hits, spray a bit of 100% organic Neem Oil to help prevent further pests from coming and making a home somehow.
There are many ways to cover your veggies in the winter garden, but this was so simply and easy.
Here is the mesh netting that I used. Linked HERE.
And here are the hoops that I used. Linked HERE.
If you want some guidance on Fall veggies, go here.