Ways to protect greenhouse crops using frost protection blanket

Introduction

Protecting greenhouse crops during the cold and rainy months is a responsibility that the grower must assume responsibly. One effective way to ward off the damage that intense cold can cause is to cover greenhouses with frost protection blanket. This is a practice commonly use during the first months of the year to protect crops from the coldest days.

A frost protection blanket is a heavy-duty, transparent plastic sheet designed to cover the entire greenhouse. This layer can reduce the amount of heat lost from the ground. From the greenhouse glass roof or from the growing bed, as well as reduce the climate around the greenhouse. This will allow growers to maintain the right temperature for winter crops. Increasing crop quantity and quality at the same time.

First step in preparing greenhouses for winter is to make sure the glass roofs are clean to ensure a good amount of sunshine during the day. Once this is assured, you need to choose a frost protection blanket. That is large and strong enough to cover the entire greenhouse. Make sure it is tight and faultless to prevent any heat loss. It is important to determine the budget for the frost protection blanket first. As there are different prices available depending on the quality and size. Also, you have to look at it for the long term. This product must be reuse for several years. So it is important that it is strong and durable enough to withstand abuse from the weather elements over time.

It is important too to consider the amount of wind blowing in the area

As it can lead to damage to the blanket. Small and medium-sized holes can let in the cold, decreasing protection. Spare tires for anti-ice blankets are recommend to solve problems in the fabric.

One way to improve thermal efficiency is to use reflective blankets to insulate the greenhouse roof. These blankets can reflect sunlight during the day and release stored heat at night. Reflectives can also be added to the inside of the blanket to affect heat transmission in a positive way. An important strategy to take advantage of the benefits of frost protection blanket is to use a potted gardening system. This will allow growers to move their crops to a warmer location during colder days. This technique also allows them to avoid complications with pests and diseases, as the crops are kept away from the fields.

Growers must ensure that the greenhouse’s internal ventilation systems are strong enough to withstand changes in temperature and wind. This will allow crops to circulate air properly, preventing stagnant temperatures from forming.

frost protection blanket in garden
One way to improve crop efficiency is to use reflective blankets to insulate the greenhouse roof; this blanket can reflect sunlight during the day and release stored heat at night.

Using a frost protection blanket is an excellent way to protect crops during the cold months of the year

If the grower takes the time to choose the right size and quality to cover the entire greenhouse, improve the internal ventilation system, and employ strategies such as container gardening, he or she can ensure adequate cover for crops grown in greenhouses.

Vegetables that need protection against low temperatures

Vegetables are vegetables with high nutritional potential that are grow in gardens to be consume by people of any culture. These highly nutritious foods are of great importance to people’s health and well-being, as they provide the nutrients needed to cope with day-to-day life.

It is important that precautions are take to prevent exposure to cold temperatures from affecting vegetable production. This problem is widespread in many parts of the world where there are high latitude areas where low temperatures are common for about half of the year.

There are several vegetables that are most at risk of damage from exposure to cold temperatures. These include yams, onions, garlic, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers and eggplant. These plants, which are essential for food, can be damage by a single frost.

It is essential, then, to provide protection for vegetables to avoid damage from low temperatures. To begin with, gardens should choose vegetable species with the greatest resistance to cold. This means choosing those that are able to withstand temperatures below 5°C, such as cabbage or lettuce. And growing vegetables in these high latitude areas must be done correctly to minimize cold damage. This includes locating the gardens correctly to take advantage of sunlight and moisture, and keeping them adequately insulated from the outside climate. For example, using plastic to cover the plants during the day and ventilating them with a good breeze at night.

crop cover by thermal blanket
It is essential to protect vegetables to avoid damage caused by low temperatures and prevent large losses.

It is also important that the gardens are as close as possible to bodies of water to prevent root freezing

Some other ways to protect the soil from cold temperatures are by adding organic matter, mulching plants, watering plants at night, and removing weeds that accumulate in the orchard.

It is vital that growers respect soil moisture levels to create an optimal environment for vegetable production. In addition, it is essential that they plant vegetables at the right time. If possible, they should wait to open their gardens when temperatures start to rise above 5°C. Finally, these crops should be grow in several rows apart, in order to maintain a homogeneous soil temperature. This means allowing air to flow between rows and avoiding planting vegetables with different heights in the same row, thus avoiding the production of temperature extremes.

Through these measures, adequate protection against cold temperatures to maximize vegetable production can be achieve. This protection must be complement with their respective care practices, to offer quality nutritious food to the population, much more nutritious than frozen food.

Therefore, with this fight against the cold, not only the supply of vegetables is guaranteed, but also the nutritional well-being of the population is promoted. For this reason, efforts and precautions to maintain adequate temperatures are essential to ensure the production and quality of vegetables.

Dangers of keeping an agricultural crop without a frost protection blanket and exposed to frost..

Agriculture is an integral part of any country’s economy. It can provide nutritious food, trades and services for those who practice it, and supply a country. In addition, farmers and agriculturalists have launched and sustained many communities around the world. However, it is important to be aware of the hazards that agriculture faces. One of the main ones is the climate and its ability to cool, with farmers working in colder areas facing an extra amount of risk versus those working in areas with warmer temperatures.

When it comes to an agricultural crop exposed to prolonged frost, the danger to the crop is significant. One of the greatest risks comes from immediate exposure to freezing temperatures, resulting in severe freezing of roots, leaves and flowers. This can lead to a significant drop in production, and most frozen vegetables and fruits will not resprout. This can be devastating for farmers who depend on the crop for their income.

floating row cover installed
One of the major risks of immediate exposure to freezing temperatures causes severe freezing of roots, leaves and flowers, resulting in lower yields.

In addition to immediate damage, the crop can also be affected by extra prolonged rainfall

While regular rainfall is important to ensure good crops, excess rainfall can flood fields and destroy the crop. This becomes a major problem in areas with frequent frosts. During this flooding time efforts can be made to save the crop, however, the main headache for farmers will sometimes be vigorous frosts that prevent them from working. This can lead to the complete destruction of the crop, as well as cause great stress to farmers who depend on it for income.

Farmers take measures to protect their crops from freezing temperatures. Measures include using specialized covers, such as cold-resistant fabrics, in some of the most affected areas to avoid direct exposure. Farmers can also use water catchment pits to store rainwater, greatly minimize the risk of flood damage, and provide greater crop comfort. These and other measures, such as early planting and planting a variety of crops can be useful for farmers working in areas with cold winter climates.

It is important to remember that any farmer working in cold climates must be aware of the dangers they bring, and make the necessary efforts to protect their crop. Doing so will ensure better production, less stress and higher incomes for both the farmer and his family. This, in turn, will contribute to the well-being of the overall economy and local communities.

Consequences of direct frosting on agricultural crops

Introduction

Direct frosting is a meteorological phenomenon related to the projection of ice particles. Ice as hail and snow, which directly hits agricultural crops. This can have a wide range of consequences on crops, many of which can be disastrous for the crop and long-term yields.

One of the first consequences of direct ice on agricultural crops is that it can cause severe physical damage to plant cells. Crop cells can be damage or destroy, which can lead to desiccation, death or disease of the plant. These relationships can be extremely detrimental to crop health. As the plant cannot survive the damage inflicted by frost, another consequence of direct frost is decreased crop yields. Low temperatures accompanying the weather event can lead to decreased crop growth and production. These temperatures can significantly impact the amount of fruit and leaves produced. Which can translate into lower income for the farmer.

In addition to the direct impact on plant cells and crop yields, direct icing can also cause long-term crop damage

This is due to the more frequent weather events that accompany the phenomenon, such as heavy rainfall or freezing winds. These events can lead to crop diseases, such as rot. Mildew or blight, all of which can significantly reduce crop yields.

It can have direct consequences on water supplies. This happens when accumulated snow blocks drainage channels, limiting water supply to crops. This decrease in water supply can lead to dehydration, desiccation and severe damage to crops. Which can affect their yields and long-term health, direct icing can also displace wildlife from agricultural crops. Animals may avoid land with direct ice. Which can decrease the population of birds and many other wildlife species that live in crops. This pressure on local ecosystems can be very serious for farmers, which can further reduce crop yields.

Direct icing can have a serious and long-term effect on agricultural crops. These consequences can have effects such as direct physical damage to plants. Decreased yields and product quality, reduced water supplies, and displacement of wildlife. Therefore, it is important to understand the severity of the risks associated with direct icing before planting crops.

micro thermal blanket tunnel
Reduced water supply can lead to dehydration, desiccation and severe crop damage as well as affect yields and long-term health.

How can ice damage greenhouse agricultural crops?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a fundamental element for life on Earth. Part of the complex natural processes that occur in the atmosphere and allows life to enjoy an abundance of energy. The most common form of carbon dioxide for life on Earth’s surface is atmospheric carbon dioxide. Which is what we take for granted that is in the air we breathe. CO2 is also an important part of plant growth. And farmers also use it to enhance the growth of their crops in greenhouses. However, CO2 can also have negative effects on greenhouse growing, especially when it accumulates with ice. When there is a large amount of ice around or on the greenhouse roof. It provides a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This can be a problem because ice accumulation in a greenhouse can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the ground. This negatively affects plant growth.

Additionally, ice buildup on the outside of the greenhouse slows heat dissipation

This causes the inside of the greenhouse to become too warm during the day, which can be detrimental to crops. Excessive temperatures can weak plant growth, and in severe cases. Can cause enough stress to kill plants if proper measures are not take. One possible conductive solution is to install an insulation board between the greenhouse floor and roof to block excessive heat, which significantly reduces the impact on crops, another way to minimize the adverse impacts of ice in a greenhouse is to keep the roof clean. Ice is use to dirty and slide off surfaces, so a clean roof will not absorb as much ice as a dirty one. Thermal insulation can also help with a clean roof, as the extra heat tends to prevent ice buildup.

Choosing the best greenhouse design is necessary to minimize the impact of CO2 and ice. Greenhouses that are properly design to admit sufficient sunlight will help keep ice at bay and maximize plant growth. Greenhouse designs that have adjustable openings to admit sunlight will be particularly beneficial, as growers can adjust the amount of sunlight entering the greenhouse based on weather conditions.

Frost blanket cover crops
It should be kept in mind to choose the best design of your greenhouse as it is necessary to minimize the impact of CO2 and ice.

It is important to keep CO2 levels under control inside greenhouses to avoid frost-related problems

This can be achieve through the use of specialize equipment such as air purifiers, humidifiers and air blowers. This equipment can help maintain a healthy environment inside the greenhouse and reduce the impact of ice.

Frost can be a major threat to greenhouse crops. If proper measures are not take, ice can significantly damage crops, reducing yields and profitability. Fortunately, there are many ways to minimize the impact of ice, such as proper maintenance and insulation, and growers can take preventative measures to protect their greenhouses from the effects of ice. By using these strategies, growers can reduce the impact of frost on their greenhouse crops and enjoy increased profitability.

How do low temperatures affect agricultural crops?

As temperatures drop, the production and yield of agricultural crops can be affecte. This is because certain temperatures as low as 20°C can damage the development and growth of agricultural crops, reducing their quality and yield. Temperatures below 7°C can also damage agricultural crops in different ways. One of the main reasons why low temperatures affect agricultural crops is because they can reduce the rate at which nutrients are absorbed by the crop. This means that nutrients needed for crop growth and development will not be available for uptake, which will ultimately affect crop yield and quality.

One reason low temperatures affect agricultural crops is because these temperatures produce a negative thermal effect on crops, meaning that the temperature is kept below freezing. This can lead to dehydration of crops, which will cause them to dry out and wilt. On the other hand, when low temperatures prevent the sun’s rays from reaching the soil directly, crops cannot receive the energy source necessary for their development. As a result, crops cannot fully mature and lend themselves to significant damage before harvest arrives.

agricultural crops with thermal blanket
The reasons why low temperatures affect agricultural crops is because they produce a negative thermal effect on crops.

When temperatures drop below 20°C, the agricultural crops defense system begins to be affected

This means that crops become less resistant to pest and disease attack, increasing the risk of crop losses. Reduced resistance can also increase susceptibility to stress, which in turn can lead to serious problems at harvest, where crops will stay in the field much longer, exposing their leaves to potential adverse conditions. Because of all these problems, growers should take measures to ensure that their crops are protected from cold temperatures, such as covering them with plastic or other wind and weather resistant fabrics. This helps maintain an adequate level of evaporation in the plot, which means crops will be better protected from frost and dewdrops. In addition, farmers should try to keep soils moist to limit the amount of damage a frost can cause by fertilizing soils to ensure proper crop development.

It is important for farmers to monitor temperatures in their field to prevent them from affecting the production and yield of their agricultural crops. This can include the use of cooling hoods or protective covers that keep the heat in the field and also includes the use of fertilizers specially designed to increase the growth of agricultural crops. Under the right climate and good crop management, farmers can achieve good crop production regardless of weather conditions. In this way, farmers can ensure that their crops are healthy and of high quality, which will produce good results and income for their businesses.

What is Floating Cover? What is it Good for?

What is Floating Cover? What is it Good for? 

Floating Cover, a Technique You Should Know

Protecting crops in a greenhouse or in a  shade house is a technique that is becoming more and more specialized. Farmers are adapting these techniques to increase profit and reduce the cost of production as well as the effort needed to achieve results. Floating covers are one of the adaptations in which an extra layer of protection is added to crops in the form of a cloth that adds a second “roof” over them. This provides a series of benefits that we’ll discuss below. 

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Farming in a macro tunnel covered with non-woven thermal blanketing with perforated padding.

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The installation of floating cover in macro tunnels or directly over the crop on the ground can be personalized according to the field and your needs.

Floating cover is used for crops that require a high temperature or that are sensitive to changing weather. The cover works like an extra shield with in a greenhouse, providing many of the same advantages and benefits as the greenhouse itself: a higher temperature, frost and rain protection, softening the change in temperature in the night and morning (since in arid regions the temperature drops during these times of the day), protection against pathogens like insects and fungus among others that damage crops. Of course, in addition to providing these benefits, floating cover takes care of forming the crop once the plants have reached the height of the cover so that they don’t become curved and so that they continue growing vertically.

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Floating covers are ideal for crops that need more heat to develop optimally, and for crops that are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature between the day and night.

Why You Should Protect Your Crop with Floating Cover

With a support system for this kind of crop cover, your crop will receive some very important help: it will be protected and its growth will be improved. This covering provides the best conditions for your crop to grow and develop, and it keeps away damaging pathogens, that could stunt growth or lower quality.

Some types of crops require a lot of sunlight and energy to grow. Floating cover provides up to 90% more light thanks to its filters and at the same time it protects your crops from pathogenic insects like aphids.

[image]

These thermal blankets protect your crops against insects that carry pathogens as well as accelerating the ripening of the fruit.

The cloth used to make floating cover is the same as the sheets used to make a greenhouse. For this reason it is easy to replace or change if it gets damaged.

Installing floating cover is easy and simple; you can do it yourself. You only need some poles or stakes on which you can place the cloth (or you can hang it from the lateral wall supports in a greenhouse).

For all of the previously mentioned reasons, protecting crops with greenhouses and floating cover is becoming more and more common in modern vegetable farming.

If you have any doubts, questions or suggestions, please contact us at the following link for more information about frost blankets.

AMA

What is Floating Cover? What is it Good for? 

Floating Cover, a Technique You Should Know

Protecting crops in a greenhouse or in a  shade house is a technique that is becoming more and more specialized. Farmers are adapting these techniques to increase profit and reduce the cost of production as well as the effort needed to achieve results. Floating covers are one of the adaptations in which an extra layer of protection is added to crops in the form of a cloth that adds a second “roof” over them. This provides a series of benefits that we’ll discuss below.

Farming in a macro tunnel covered with non-woven thermal blanketing with perforated padding.

The installation of floating cover in macro tunnels or directly over the crop on the ground can be personalized according to the field and your needs. 

Floating cover is used for crops that require a high temperature or that are sensitive to changing weather. The cover works like an extra shield with in a greenhouse, providing many of the same advantages and benefits as the greenhouse itself: a higher temperature, frost and rain protection, softening the change in temperature in the night and morning (since in arid regions the temperature drops during these times of the day), protection against pathogens like insects and fungus among others that damage crops. Of course, in addition to providing these benefits, floating cover takes care of forming the crop once the plants have reached the height of the cover so that they don’t become curved and so that they continue growing vertically. 

Floating covers are ideal for crops that need more heat to develop optimally, and for crops that are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature between the day and night. 

Why You Should Protect Your Crop with Floating Cover

With a support system for this kind of crop cover, your crop will receive some very important help: it will be protected and its growth will be improved. This covering provides the best conditions for your crop to grow and develop, and it keeps away damaging pathogens, that could stunt growth or lower quality.

Some types of crops require a lot of sunlight and energy to grow. Floating cover provides up to 90% more light thanks to its filters and at the same time it protects your crops from pathogenic insects like aphids.

These thermal blankets protect your crops against insects that carry pathogens as well as accelerating the ripening of the fruit. 

The cloth used to make floating cover is the same as the sheets used to make a greenhouse. For this reason it is easy to replace or change if it gets damaged. 

Installing floating cover is easy and simple; you can do it yourself. You only need some poles or stakes on which you can place the cloth (or you can hang it from the lateral wall supports in a greenhouse). 

For all of the previously mentioned reasons, protecting crops with greenhouses and floating cover is becoming more and more common in modern vegetable farming. 

If you have any doubts, questions or suggestions, please contact us at the following link for more information about frost blankets.

Floating covers are used for crops that require a high temperature or crops that are sensitive to abrupt changes in their environment.