Strawberry/beet frost protection

[Elizabeth C]

What’s the cheapest way to cover/protect strawberries from frost? Also, I read that I should put a row cover over my beets before they sprout too; does that make sense? Is it important?

 

[Chuck]

The best thing IMO that you can protect from cold/frost is a product called Nsulate. A layer of this fabric will give you at least 6 degrees of protection, more if you add another layer. Soil temperature is important for beet germination and anything below 50F becomes very iffy, especially if there is any rain. So, a row cover is important if it gives temperature/frost protection to the plant and keeps the soil above 50F.

 

[Mr_Yan]

How hard of a frost are you expecting?

I may get a rain snow mix again tonight. Strawberries have some flowers on them, oh well we'll see. They've been in that bed for almost a year now and in this garden for 3 years now. I don't think strawberries will be hurt by frost unless they're well into flowering or fruit set.

Makes no sense to me to put a cover over un-sprouted beet seeds. Beets hardened off / sprouted outside are good to a hard freeze.

 

[Elizabeth C]

Thanks! They actually hadn’t flowered yet, the berries, but now there isn’t supposed to be any more frost anyway.

 

[Meadowlark]

I'll second the recommendation for Nsulate. It is a great product and I've used it many times successfully.

 

[Tetters]

Is your Nsulate the same as our horticultural fleece ? We keep a big roll of that handy!

 

[Chuck]

View attachment 96116 Is your Nsulate the same as our horticultural fleece ? We keep a big roll of that handy!

It looks close to the same thing but perhaps ours is a tad heavier? Same principle anyway

 

[Tetters]

I wonder if yours is like this then Chuck

This one is sheep's wool fleece which is a tad heavier - not sure, but I guess it would be more expensive though.

 

[Chuck]

View attachment 96116 Is your Nsulate the same as our horticultural fleece ? We keep a big roll of that handy!

I have never seen ours come in a roll, unfortunately. Ours is folded up

 

[Chuck]

I wonder if yours is like this then Chuck View attachment 96117 This one is sheep's wool fleece which is a tad heavier - not sure, but I guess it would be more expensive though.

No, ours is not a natural product. I can't tell for sure from the pictures, but it appears yours is a little more opaque than ours.

 

[Tetters]

I think ours is probably a few miles long - it has lasted for at least four years already, and still has plenty on there - it is sold to the trade in rolls - that's where I got the idea from, and it works out a lot cheaper in the long run.

 

[Meadowlark]

I think ours is probably a few miles long - it has lasted for at least four years already, and still has plenty on there - it is sold to the trade in rolls - that's where I got the idea from, and it works out a lot cheaper in the long run.

Oh yes it comes in rolls here also. I've used off of this roll for about 5 years and consider it a lifetime supply. Great product!

 

[Chuck]

Oh yes it comes in rolls here also. I've used off of this roll for about 5 years and consider it a lifetime supply. Great product!

View attachment 96119

Where do you find rolls? A package of the folding stuff is a MAJOR PITA to use.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

If you are tight like me you keep all the flexible foam packing and bubble wrap, I can go out and put an overcoat on half the garden if it gets nasty. I have found bubble wrap stretched over a frame is great for germinating seed too. The frame keeps it just off the ground, but close enough to stop drying out.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Is this the same product where there are different weights and I've seen people saying the lightest weight is great for insect control?

I've been thinking about making a few frames for my common raised beds to use as insect control over the likes of my brassica.