Growing Under Cover

By Niki Jabbour

Increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and pest infestations are challenging today’s vegetable gardeners. In this in-depth guide, Jabbour shows how to use small solutions like cloches, row covers, shade cloth, cold frames, and hoophouses, as well as larger protective structures like greenhouses and polytunnels, to create controlled growing spaces for vegetables to thrive. Jabbour highlights the many benefits of using protective covers to plant earlier, eliminate pests, and harvest a healthier, heartier bounty year round.

Readers can apply the book’s framework to row cover, low tunnels, caterpillar tunnels, and greenhouses while choosing the least complex structure that meets a crop goal. Covered growing changes temperature, humidity, irrigation, wind, and pest pressure, so ventilation and monitoring remain essential. Adapt crop calendars to local light and frost patterns, and confirm anchoring, snow-load, wind-load, and building requirements before constructing a permanent or large structure.

Browse more practical references in our Gardening Books collection.