Hey everyone! I set up six raised garden beds in my yard last fall and filled them with soil and compost, hoping to keep them ready for the upcoming planting season. Now that spring is here in zone 4B, I'm planning to put hoops or tunnels over the beds to give my plants a head start. I have a ton of tomatoes that I started a little too early. While I know I can't plant them in March, getting them in the ground by late April would really help. I can get PVC for the structure, but I'm struggling to find the right plastic or cloth for the covering. What do I actually call this material when I'm looking to buy it? I live in a pretty rural area, so I hope it won't be too hard to find once I know the name. Thanks a lot!
1 Answer
It's great that you're getting a head start! First off, be mindful of your average last frost date. Since you're in zone 4B, you're likely looking at a late May frost, so planting in late April might be risky for your tomatoes. A hoop house should help, but consider getting a wireless thermometer to monitor the temperature inside your structure. I usually get my plastic from Home Depot; they sell it in rolls, just make sure it’s clear and at least 6 mil thick. Adding frost blankets on top can offer extra protection when a cold snap hits. You can also use bed sheets or old blankets if you don’t have frost blankets on hand!
Thanks for the detailed info! That last frost date is tough—my date is also around May 31. I’m learning that the plastic and frost blankets are indeed different materials. So, does that mean frost blankets wouldn't be enough on their own because they don't let in enough sunlight?