Library · Air, climate & CO₂
Frost Cloth Selector.
Frost Cloth / Row Cover Selector
Floating row covers — pest exclusion, frost protection, season extension. Pick the right weight; light transmission and frost rating matter.
Row cover weights compared
| Weight (oz/yd²) | Light transmission | Frost protection | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.45 oz (very light) | ~95% | 1-2°F | Pest exclusion only; no frost benefit |
| 0.55 oz (light) | ~85% | 2-3°F | Insect barrier; limited frost; e.g., Agribon AG-15 |
| 0.9 oz (medium) | ~75% | 4-6°F | Moderate frost; e.g., Agribon AG-19, ProtekNet light frost |
| 1.25 oz (heavy) | ~70% | 6-8°F | Solid frost protection; e.g., Agribon AG-30 |
| 1.5 oz (heaviest) | ~50% | 8-10°F | Hard freeze; e.g., Agribon AG-50; reduces light significantly |
| 2.0 oz (winter) | ~30% | 10°F+ | Overwinter; emergency hard freeze; high-tunnel inner blanket |
Insect netting (different category)
| Mesh | Excludes | Light loss |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mesh | Whitefly, aphid, leafminer, thrips, all larger | ~15-20% |
| 32 mesh | Whitefly, leafhopper, aphid (some) | ~10-15% |
| 25 mesh | Cabbage looper, cucumber beetle, flea beetle | ~10% |
| 17 mesh | Larger insects, deer/rabbit | ~5-8% |
| 50 mesh ProtekNet / Bug-Off | Specific anti-thrips for greenhouse | ~15-20% |
Insect netting (mesh) is more durable than spunbond row cover; lasts 10+ seasons vs 2-4 for spunbond. Use for permanent installations.
Application rules
- Lay BEFORE pests arrive. Once cabbage moths or cucumber beetles are inside, the cover traps them with the crop.
- Fully bury / weight edges. Even 1" of gap admits flea beetles. Soil, sandbags, or u-pins.
- Remove for pollinator-required crops at flowering. Self-pollinating (tomato, pepper, bean) can stay covered; cucurbits + tree fruit need bee access.
- Remove during heat waves. Even light covers add 5-10°F under cloth on sunny days; lettuce/leafy can bolt.
- Heavy frost cloth ≠ replacement for greenhouse. Will protect 8-10°F below ambient; hard freezes still kill tender crops.
- Reuse when possible. Quality spunbond lasts 3-5 seasons with care; insect netting 10+.
- Wash and dry before storing. Soil and biofilm shorten life dramatically.
Quick reference: deploy timing
| Crop / situation | When to deploy |
|---|---|
| Brassicas (cabbage worm prevention) | At transplant; remove only at harvest |
| Cucurbits (cucumber beetle, squash bugs) | At germination; remove at first flower for pollination |
| Salad greens (flea beetles, summer cooling) | At germination; remove during transplanting only |
| Carrots (carrot rust fly) | Throughout season |
| Tomato / pepper (frost protection at outset) | Transplant through 2 weeks past last frost; remove after |
| Strawberries (early bloom protection) | Frost nights at bloom; remove during day |
| Spinach / kale (overwinter) | Heavy weight 1.5+ oz from October through March |
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