Even when we put our seedlings in the ground they need hardening before they are safe from the elements. Depending on where you live you may need to protect the seedlings with a net tunnel at night or during unusually harsh sunny days.
In the early spring occasionally there will be a night or two when the temperature drops and an unexpected frost occurs. After plainting seedlings it is always best to protect them for a few days or a week or two until they are hardy enough to survive without added protection.
We use the Haxnicks Easy Net Tunnel as shown in the picture. It is easy to use in the garden and makes a nice transition to the ground from a portable greenhouse or any greenhouse or cold frame.
The Haxnicks Easy Net Tunnel is ideal for protecting berry plants in particular, but works well with all small seedlings. The tunnel is 12" high, 18" wide and 10 ' long. The best thing about this tunnel is that by overlapping ends, several tunnels can be put together to create a cover for any length row. The cover is made from high density polypropylene netting. The net at the end can be left open for ventilation or closed for added protection at night.
With proper care the net tunnels can be used year after year. Like the portable greenhouse a net tunnel is not a permanent structure or fixture and can be used as necessary when necessary. Seedlings need protection as they transition from a totally protected environment to the garden. This is one of the least expensive ways to protect the seedlings.
To extend the growing season by two to six weeks, the Haxnicks Easy Poly-Tunnel is a great accessory to any gardeners set of tools. This polyurethane tunnel will protect the seedlings from more than the environment. It also protects the seedlings from animals who love to make a dinner of tender young leaves.
The poly-tunnel will hold humidity and acts much like a cold frame or mini greenhouse. While ventilation is dependent on circulating through the tunnel's open ends, heat can build up if not attended properly. However, this poly tunnel is ideal for those of us who cannot wait to get the new seedlings in the ground.
One of the nice things about this poly tunnel is that is unfolds like an accordian and refolds into a compact package for easy storage.
The Haxnicks Fleece Tunnel is really unqiue. We love it and actually prefer it to the poly-tunnel. The polyproplene fleece seems to work better for our southern garden. There is open ventilation on the ends, but in our humid conditions, this tunnel does not seem to hold as much humidity which can create mold and fungus on the plants if the humidity is high and the poly-tunnel is not removed.
For those who want to extend the growing season by a month or more a garden tunnel is the ideal means of doing so after planting seedlings. None of us can predict the weather or know when a late frost could occur.
Of note, the garden tunnel should be purchased with the area of the country where you live in mind. In the deep south we have found that in most cases the net tunnel works quite well and is our number one choice. In areas with low humidity the poly-tunnel would probably work best to keep the plants moist. We have found that it is a little too much protection in the mid south because of humidity issues and we usually plant our seedlings from a greenhouse or cold frame so they have been successfully protected for several weeks. The fleece tunnel is an ideal "in between" tunnel. We do use them occasionally when it is particularly dry in the early spring.
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