retiredprof - I use FRC a lot and not just for cool nights. When I plant bean seeds I'll bend some 3/8" PVC into arcs and cover with lightweight FRC - keeps the birds from digging up the beans and the bunnies from munching the sprouts. Also keeps cabbage butterflies off of cole crops. Keeps birds out a new bed of baby onion plants, etc. I love that stuff and keep finding uses for it. It lets in light and air and rain, and keeps out bugs and most critters.
Kris

I used them last year over wire hoops on a bed of lettuce and spinach. Didn't really notice any bugs but it was my first time growing greens. I have heard that if you put it on after the bad bugs are in there... it is a like a safe buffet for them because their predators can't get at them. One things I did like was that we had some really heavy rains last year and the covers kept the plants from getting flattened and the mud from splashing up on them. One bad thing is that they tear pretty easily and aren't cheap. I had a curious raccoon try to climb my hoops and punched big holes in the fabric.

As for protecting ws seedlings, I never bothered and they were fine. After planting some out in late spring it got really cold and the leaves even turned purple, but once it warmed up they thrived.

I bought some cover last year to try on my cut-flower kale plants for insect protection, and never got around to using it.

This year, a friend of mine gave me some row cover to put in my cold frames as added protection during the winter, and it was the same stuff I bought for insect protection. I guess I thought they were different things.

Anyway, I did lay some over my greens and carrots inside the cold frame. Everything came through quite well, with the exception of some parsley. Whether it would have done as well without the FRC, I don't know, since it was my first year with cold frames too. So I guess after all that, I'm not really much help, am I, lol?

I am going to try some in the fall, I think, to extend things a bit. Oh, and maybe this year I'll get around to protecting my kale too!

:)
Dee

Around how much are they?
I've heard they are a good option for the strawberry patch too.

I bought one package at a local nursery: 5x25 feet for $11.00. I'm sure you can probably find it cheaper and in larger quantities online.

I thought it was a little pricey, but I can cover 4 raised beds and it should last two years or more. I figured with the cost of seeds and the labor of getting them started, it was worth it.

Prof

Y'know you don't need expensive floating row cover. I use discarded window sheers that came with this house. I also got some others at garage sales. They are woven polyester fabric and make excellent covers.
Kris

Kris, Yes, I know. Of course, I didn't find out about the polyester sheers until after I bought the stuff. I'll be checking Freecycle for those from now on.

I just wanted to know if WS folks actually use FRCs and have good results.

Yes, I like the concept of FRC. But I prefer the sheers, they don't get 'brittle' in UV light and tear a lot less. 2 years ago it was the sheers draped over my trellises that saved my entire cucumber crop from a whole herd of deer and they also kept the birds off of my berry bush so I could get some harvest. Also the sheers are wider and comes in handy for large projects.

I've been using the same FRC for years, it holds up well and does a good job of protecting plants from light frosts. I also use old sheets, blankets, curtains, etc. One year HD used FRC on all their spring hanging baskets. I kept those small pieces and now use them to cover ws annuals in the spring. The big FRC sheets are great for wrapping potted containers that are too big to carry into the garage.

I use it to cover my sprouts when we get those late freezes (not frosts but hard freezes down in the low 20s and teens). And I use it in the vegetable garden to keep the cabbage moths from the cole crops and the ducks out of the peas. I have been using the same stuff for several years and haven't had a problem with it deteriorating.

I use them...particularly when I plant out around this time of year and a frost is predicted. I have an official FRC and then I also use tarps. I'm big on using whatever I have at hand.
When there's no frost predicted, I let them tough it out. If they've been outside for a while, I let them tough it out frost or not. It's mostly cool weather plants that have sprouted anyway, so they usually can handle it.

Linda