Lightweight Row Cover

One way to grow an organic garden is to exclude the insects from your crop. This can be done and still let the sun in by using a lightweight row cover that you can buy on Amazon. This row cover is a  spun material that comes in different weights and you want the lightweight cloth to keep out insects but still let light through.

A tent of light row cover protecting my squash crop from insects.

I use fiberglass rods to support the Row cover but 1/2″ pvc pipe or 9 gauge wire will work as well.

I secure the row cover with soil all around the perimeter to exclude the insects. If you have a raised bed with wood sides you could staple your row cover to sides of the bed.

You will need a soaker hose or drip line under the row cover because the row cover will not let enough water through to water your crop from above.

Depending on what you are grow you will have to uncover your crop when it blooms to allow bees in to pollinate.

Leafy greens, cabbage, broccoli or any other crop that does not need pollination to produce a fruit can stay covered until you harvest.

Mulch your plants before you cover them because you don’t want to be uncovering them too often to do weeding.

The more you remove your row cover the more chances there will be for insects to get to your crop.