March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Mainers have several options to extend the gardening season

Using technology and various means of extending the growing season is an important way for those of us living in temperate climates, with fairly short growing seasons, to lengthen the period in which we may harvest vegetable crops from our garden.

The tools we use to modify the growing environment around our plants are as important as our spade and hoe: We call these “season extenders” or “plant protectors.” Year-round gardeners use a variety of methods to allow them to harvest certain crops throughout the calendar year. But if year-round gardening is not within your means or interest, you can still implement these techniques with relative ease.

Consider that you have at least two opportunities to effectively increase the duration of your growing season: In spring and in autumn. If you have ever used “walls o’ water” around your tomatoes, you have used a low-tech means of plant protection. These double-walled plastic teepees hold water between their layers, absorb the sun’s heat energy during the day and retain the heat in the plant’s growing environment through the night. Purportedly, these structures protect young seedlings to 16 degrees Fahrenheit and allow transplanting to take place six to eight weeks earlier than usual.

The “walls o’ water” is probably an offspring of the “cloche” (meaning bell), a glass bell-shaped jar French market gardeners have used as a plant protector. A glass covering over small plants doesn’t offer the added protection or insulation qualities of water, but nonetheless, it protects tender seedlings from the damaging effects of light frost.

Row covers that modify the growing environment around plants come in all shapes and sizes. Think of them as the smallest of all greenhouses, if you will. A simple clear 1.5 -2 mil plastic row cover supported by arcs of flexible PVC tubing or wire hoops inserted into the ground is an effective and relatively inexpensive way of keeping frost and wind away from plants.

The plastic sheeting should be slitted at even intervals to allow ventilation. In spring, plastic row covers should be removed after the danger of frost has past. If left in place on warm sunny days, they may do more harm than good: Too much heat can build up inside the miniature greenhouse, causing leaves and blossoms to become damaged.

Row covers placed over seeds or plants in spring speed soil warming and encourage early maturation of crops by one to three weeks. A single-layer row cover protects plants from a light frost; a double-layer may protect plants down to 27 degrees F. Place a blanket, hay or straw mulch over a double-layer row cover and obtain even greater crop protection.

Additionally, some floating row covers made of a lightweight spun polypropylene fabric are used throughout the growing season to provide effective control of a range of insects. These row covers also give a reprieve from light frosts and damaging winds. Unlike clear plastic row covers, floating row covers will not work with the sun to damage plants – the lightweight material rests unsupported on the tops of plants, and lifts as they grow.

All row covers, regardless of their constitution provide protection from the undesirable elements. In autumn, this may be one way gardeners can delay the effects of frost and allow a longer period for plants to mature.

Reader Connection

My thanks goes to several readers who kindly pointed out that last week’s article on bamboo may have misrepresented the aggressive and invasive plant. While many people refer to the plant in question by several common names, including “Chinese bamboo,” “American bamboo” and “Japanese knotweed,” the plant in question is not a true bamboo. It is botanically known as Fallopia japonica. Although the plant does have jointed hollow stems and several other characteristics of the bamboo family (Poaceae), it is actually a member of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). My apologies, if I created confusion.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, RR1, Box 2120, Montville 04941, or e-mail them to dianagc@ctel.net. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like