Pests
Using row covers for pests
Row cover is a breathable spun fabric that lets light, air, and water through but keeps insects out. It's the easiest way to stop cabbage worms, flea beetles, carrot rust flies, and cucumber beetles.
Steps
- Install cover right after planting or transplanting, before pests find the bed.
- Drape it loosely over hoops or stakes so leaves aren't crushed as plants grow.
- Bury or weigh down the edges with soil, boards, or rocks — pests will find any gap.
- For self-pollinating crops (broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kale), keep cover on until harvest.
- For crops that need bees (cucumbers, squash), remove the cover once flowers appear so pollinators can get in.
Helpful tip
Rotate the bed each year — pests that overwintered in the soil can hatch under the cover with nothing to stop them.