Adoption of floating row covers
- Growers: Val and Sam Micallef.
- Region: Greater Sydney.
- Location: Hawkesbury valley.
- Crop: 30ha of mixed vegetables.
After attending a VegNET NSW low cost protected cropping workshop in 2017 which focused on the benefits of using frost cloth (floating row covers) to produce lettuce outside the traditional growing period, Sam and Val were keen to trial floating row covers on their farm. After purchasing a few rolls of floating row covers from VegNET staff, they engaged their crop consultant to assist with installing and monitoring crops through Winter 2018.
Results
After the row covers were removed at four to six weeks it was evident the lettuce grown under the cloth were more advanced and better quality than lettuce grown without covers. Other benefits observed were:
- protection from frosts, wind, light hail and sunburn
- extending the growing season
- advancing the crop maturity
- reduction in water loss and irrigation
- reduced insect contamination especially in leafy salad products
- reduced soil splash especially on cos lettuce
- lettuce seedlings developed quicker earlier in the season
- reduced fruit fly attack with capsicums and eggplants.
Contact Local Land Services NSW
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