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Floating fabric rowcovers provide cooling
and shading, are perforated so water can come through, aid
in pest management by letting plants get established before
bug infestation begins, and extend the growing season well
past the frost season. This high quality spun-bonded polypropylene
cover fabric is light enough to be hooped over a frame of
8, 9, or 10 gage wire.
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"plant startlings in hot house"
SOWING
Sow several varieties of greens
(lettuce, chard, mustard, arugula, etc.) inside or in a greenhouse
or coldframe, beginning as early as late February. Thin in a box
so each plant can be individually transplanted.
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In March or April, you can transplant into the cloche
with a "dibble", a tool that picks up the whole plant
without disturbing the roots. Use the dibble to dig a hole and to
transfer the plant into the hole. Set approximately 6" apart.
In a few weeks, you will have beautiful, tender, tasty greens that
can be grown outside from March to through October. You can actually
grow the hardier greens (collards, spinach, mustard greens) all
through the winter where there is a lot of sun, using 8mil solid
plastic covers. They often will freeze at night and be transparent
as glass in the early morning. By the time the sun warms the cloche
at mid-day, they will be thawed and thriving and ready to pick for
lunch or dinner. You need
to open the ends a little to let in more oxygen periodically, and
be sure they have enough water, but other than that, they take care
of themselves. The snow actually provides insulation and gives them
filtered light. In summer, the plastic mesh provides 70% filtered
light in a region where the high-altitude sun can burn up practically
anything.
It also helps retain moisture and the partial shade keeps your greens
from bolting
"transplants in place"
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"full growth, close knitted plants"
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High altitude soil usually needs organic material.
Add manure, rotted hay, compost, etc. If you are starting a new
garden, in the Fall, put several layers of cardboard on top of the
area you want to cultivate. Cover with 2-4" of organic material.
By Spring, when the ground is thawed, the local plants will have
died and provided organic material, the worms will have eaten the
cardboard (they love it), and the top organic material will have
become soil. Pull the upper layer of organic material off the soil
and turn the soil with a spade (so you won’t injure the worms).
Sift the organic material through a ¼-1/2" screen and
cover the soil with about 2" of the organic mulch. This provides
the soil with
nutrition and helps the soil retain moisture.
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"plant cover in full sun, wind, or hail"
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