Harvesting late - time of year , frost - sweetened cropsis such a welfare to uprise into the fall in cold climates . It also makes the most of the same garden space as it allows a grower to add anothersuccession of cropsto the garden . time of year extension increases full harvests from the same substantial footage .
So many of our favorite fall crops ( kale , gelt , Brussel sprouts , Swiss chard , parsnips , beets , Brassica rapa , carrot , Apium graveolens rapaceum , rutabagas and radish ) try sweet-smelling after a frost . This is because these veggies are able to change by reversal starches in their cell into a botanic “ anti - freeze ” to keep themselves from die when temps dip . This chemical change , their “ anti - freeze , ” turns into sucrose — aka sugar .
To keep harvesting deeper into fall and possibly even winter — plus benefit from the frost - bring on increase in natural shekels — try covering these crop with a low burrow . Or if you contrive far enough ahead you’re able to even originate them in a insensate frame .
Choose Your Cover
The basic idea is that , by cover a plant , you keep the territory ’s warmth intact and have that radiate up into the melody around the plant . The sun also warm the breeze ensnare inside the tunnel . you may bring in decisive degrees under cover depending on sunlight , soil and height of the tunnel .
The thickness of the coating also makes a difference in heat retention . Anything less than 2 - mm - thick plastic is n’t deserving the bother as it just wo n’t hold in the heat and run to deplumate well .
I intimate 4- to 6 - mm charge card for cover abject burrow .
Low Tunnels
Low tunnel are so easy to pop up and move around to follow your crop rotations . fundamentally , you just pound in 18- to 24 - inch lengths of rebar at the corner ( and along the edges if the span is longer than 4 column inch ) . Then simply slew some 1/2 - inch polyvinyl chloride over the rebar . echo this on the other side to make an archway over the bed you want to cover .
Next , add a control stick of PVC the duration of the bed ( perpendicular to the arches ) to add strength to the construction . secure with zip ties makes this step super slow . continue in plastic , ensuring you have enough to make contact with the soil all the fashion around . you may utilize a longer piece of rebar ( or rocks , timber , etc . ) to weigh down the edges .
Secure the plastic to the PVC with clips or clamps .
You ’ll want to monitor the temperature inside humbled tunnel often , specially on cheery daylight when tune temperature can rise quickly ( even when outside temperatures stay in the 30s ) .
Cloches
If you want to protect an item-by-item plant , consider a simple “ cloche . ” This is a fancy watchword that depict anything that will hold in the heat .
I ’ve used 5 - congius bucket and light charge card BIN to protect salad super C and cabbages when we got a quick magnetic dip into the low 20s . Being able to insure industrial plant for a day or two lets me keep them alive in the ground , thus holding onto nutrients longer .
Cold Frames
frigid frames are structure , typically slightly permanent , that insulate a garden bed . They can be construct of lumber , log , concrete blocks or straw bales and cover with a piece of Plexiglass or tempered glass . You’ll just require to verify the angle of your cold-blooded frame ’s sash slants between 25 to 55 point and faces south .
Season Extension Tips
Michelle Bruhn , Forks in the Dirt
you may discover more selective information on season extension here : time of year elongation : Garden + Harvest into the Fall + Winter .
