Should I be using garden fleece?

[JoannaB]

We have just planted veggies for the first time, some in the ground and some in pots (carrots, parsnips, courgettes, mangetout, beetroot, chinese radish, rocket and lettuce).

I have covered all of them with garden fleece to protect against small animals, but was just wondering if this was the correct thing to have done.

Any advice would be great!

[Aberdeenplotter]

The norm is to use fleece either as a barrier against insects which lay damaging eggs(carrot or cabbage rootfly for example or the white cabbage butterfly) or to use it to create a wee micro climate which will help plants develop. It isn't much of a defence against cats, dogs or squirrels.

[Nicos]

Hi there Joanna- you haven't put your location- and we could really do with your approx location to be able to give you decent advice.

Fleece is wonderful at helping to maintain moisture and protect against frost.
There are different thicknesses of fleece depending how cold you expect to get at night.
You've planted out some frost intolerant crops...do you know what thickness of fleece you have used?
I find fleece superb against carrot fly- and usually my carrot patch is permanently covered in fleece.

Most places in the UK have their last expected frost ( note the word 'expected') by the end of May- the South maybe a couple of weeks earlier , and further north up to a couple of weeks into June. Depends on your location!

If it's forecast 5C or lower, I'd be tempted to cover the plants and fleece at night with some newspaper to keep the frost off...lower than that and you'd be best having the pots as close to/inside the house as possible for the night-

This hot weather we've all been having ( apart from N Scotland I believe???) has made us all feel summer is at last here....be very aware that the risk of frost is very, very great....and such a waste of young plants!

Anyhows..welcome to the Vine...

[Snadger]

Location..location...location!

[JoannaB]

We're in Nottingham, so probably not actually out of the woods as far as frost goes. I can move everything inside apart from the courgettes and mangetout, but I have back ups of everything in propagators in the conservatory in case anything fails. It's our first time planting veggies so all very trial and error. Great tip about the newspaper - I will definitely do that.

Thanks a lot for the advice. No doubt I will be back with more questions!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Joanna and welcome to the vine and no we are not out of the woods just yet we can get frost up to mid May. Not likely but the chance is there.

It would really help if you put your location on your profile as you will more than likely be asked for it when you pose a question. The climate in our little country varies greatly so grapes have to know where you live.

Colin fellow member of the Robin Hood club