Fall Gardening: Extending the Gardening Season

Agribon in a Commercial Application

Want tasty veggies throughout the year? Here are some Tips.  

  Agribon™ row cover is a non-woven, spun polypropylene material that enables our DripWorks demonstration garden to remain productive year round. Primarily used to get the gardening season off to an early start, this gauze-like material also prolongs our growing season well into autumn.

Fall Planting for Overwintering Crops

  

Agribon Loop Hoop

 We grow garlic in our demo garden here in Northern  California. A long season crop, we plant the first week of  October and harvest the last weekend in June. It's  usually too early to worry about frost protection when we  plant, but keeping the beds 4-6 degrees warmer greatly  speeds up the germination process. After the bed has  been prepped and the individual cloves planted, it's time  to cover the bed. For this purpose, we form a supporting  arch from a bent section of stiff, yet pliable, wire mesh  fencing and lay the Agribon™ over top. For individual  crop rows, we use Loop Hoops as a support.

Early Season Seed Starts in Flats

  If you like to start your plants outdoors in a sunny location, Agribon™ will help them stay warm during the early spring days and store that warmth during the cold nights, resulting in higher germination rates and healthier starts.

Early Season in the Garden

Agribon™ can also create a greenhouse effect to give plants a jump start, making it possible to plant as early as February or March in our area. Agribon™ moderates the daytime climate, giving the air around the plants that 4-6 degree boost your plants are bound to appreciate when nighttime temps dip. That's the equivalent of moving your garden into the next warmest planting zone!  At home I keep the cover on my raised beds until April and here at DripWorks I can wait even longer.

Wind and Insect Control

  Agribon™ will “cut” the cold wind and still allow 85% of the sunlight through to warm the soil. This protected space keeps insects out, while helping  your starts and growing plants thrive. And if a hatch of insects should appear in your vicinity, you can cover everything in minutes.

Delicate Shrubs, Citrus, Roses, and Deck Containers 

  During a cold snap, you can wrap your smaller plants in Agribon™ to avoid frost damage. Think of it as a cozy cocoon. In some areas, you may want to leave it on all winter.

                                      

Shade Protection in the Heat of Summer

  When the thermometer in my home garden rises above 90 degrees, I often drape Agribon™ over my lettuces and any other greens receiving direct sun. This provides the cooling effect of partial shade and helps forestall the bitter taste that can occur during the heat of summer.


High Tunnels and Greenhouses

Solexx Oasis Greenhouse

 Setting up a ClearSpan High Tunnel or Solexx Greenhouse is an easy and cost effective way to extend your growing season while gaining greater control over your growing environment. These structures can enhance the quality of your crop and boost yields by up to 50% per square foot.  For information on irrigating high tunnels see our Gallery of Plans at: www.dripworks.com/category/gop_rc

Clearspan High Tunnel

Questions? Visit us at www.dripworks.com or call us at 1.800.522.3747