Early Spring Use of Low Tunnels

Why the forks?  My feline friends assumed this cozy shelter was for their benefit.

Our unpredictable springs make it difficult to get the cool season crops planted.  An inexpensive option to protecting your crops in early spring is to construct a low tunnel.

Right now there are seedlings of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, pac choi, and cauliflower under low tunnels.

Finished tunnel!

These tunnels protects seedlings from wind, birds, squirrels, cold, and excessive sun while the seedlings are getting established. 

In May, I will move these low tunnels to cover tomatoes and peppers.  It will allow me to plant transplants of warm season crop a little earlier. Low tunnels are a temporary cover easily moved or remove.

An additional layer of protection can be added by putting a floating row cover directly on top of seedlings under the tunnel.

One side is secured and the other I can roll up for access to water.  All these seedlings were started indoors and transplanted to the low tunnels this month.

Another use for row covers is to protect early spring direct seeded crops like peas, carrots, beets, and spinach.

I lay the covers directly on the soil after seeding a bed.  It retains moisture, heat, and protects newly emerging seedlings from birds and squirrels.

 

How to Construct a Low Tunnel

•Use 6  2 foot lengths of re-bar in sides of bed

•Slip ½ PVC pipe over hoops

•Attach a center support for extra strength, screw it into PVC (optional)

•Cover with light or medium weight row cover for early springs use

•Use clamps or clothes pins to hold in place

•Make clamps from ¾ PVC cut to 3” then remove portion of pipe to make a clamp or they can be purchased.  In temporary situations clothes pins work fine.

•Secure bottom of row covers with pole, landscape staples, or whatever you have on hand.

Ready to plant!