Why use row cover?

We use row cover for a variety of reasons.  It protects the plants early in the season from frost damage.  Although only 85% of sunlight filters through the fabric, it raises the interior temperature by around 4 degrees. It can protect against certain insects and wind.

While it is a non recyclable, petroleum based product, it's durable. If we treat it well, it can last several seasons. We feel the benefits outweigh the downsides.

Mostly, it's to keep the marauding chickens and geese from eating our veggies.  A fence should be going up soon around this plot.