Wildwood Farm

British Columbia

Linda in the cabbage patch. The white cloth on the right handside of the photo is a floating row cover. Before discovering this marvellous stuff, we had pretty much given up growing any of the brassica family. We were having a problem with root maggots. Flys lay eggs on the plant, the eggs hatch and the larvae travel down the stem to the roots which they feed on and the plants then wilt and finally keel over, dead. This row cover prevents the flys from laying their eggs--it also prevents damage from flea beetles and cabbage moths. We covered our transplants as soon as they were set out, and only removed the cover to weed, water, side dress with compost and harvest. The cover also reduces wind stress and gives a bit of added warmth. --We had cabbages of up to 25 lbs, and the biggest marigolds we've ever seen!