Organic Farmer Network: Network Discussion Summary

Topic: Row Covers

Cathy wants to know about Mark's technique of using rebar to hold down his row covers. She uses bricks and is ready for something that keeps the row covers in place better.

Mark replies: “we have two sizes of rebar here that we use for staking Tenax floral netting: 3/8" pieces 4' long that we bought from Lowes, and _" pieces that are 5' long that we bought and had cut at the local lumberyard. Both work for securing reemay as well. We pull out the reemay and lay down pieces of rebar on top of the fabric edges about every 20', pinning the reemay to the rebar with clothespins. We also use a piece at each end, across the bed. I don't think we've ever had the reemay blow off using this technique! It's nice, because we rarely need the rebar for staking the netting during the seasons that we need it for the reemay.”

Cathy uses ladder wire (Durwall) to make arches over growing beds to hold up row covers. They come 20/bundle, 10 ft lengths and can be bought at masonry supply places. She spans 2 beds with 10ft pieces, but they can be cut shorter. She sets them every 10 ft down the length of her beds. Rebar doesn’t work well for Cathy when using these, even when pinning it on with clothespins. Reemay on the ground doesn’t have a problem when using rebar.