As we move into April, we can expect a lot of wacky spring weather, so make sure you have all the right knowledge and tools to protect your crops.

Build Low-Tunnels Over Your Garden Beds: Here’s a great how-to from Grow Organic on how to build low-tunnels over your raised beds. The same general process applies to in-ground beds. If you live at higher altitudes where you expect heavier snow loads, you might want to consider a pipe bender and galvanized electrical conduit such as the ones they sell through Johnny’s and other online sources.

Photo from GrowOrganic.com

Cover Your Garden Beds: As for what to cover them with, we use something called Agribon, but any floating row cover will work. These kinds of coverings can stay on day and night because they allow sun, air, and water to flow through them. They come in different weights (50, 70, etc.) based on how many degrees warmer you want to keep things. If it gets really cold, you can also use a 4 or 6 mil polyethylene plastic or even just a giant tarp – as long as you have hoops to support it. Just make sure to take either of these coverings off before the sun comes up or you risk cooking your plants!

Good luck keeping those little plant babies all cozy in the ground and enjoy the moisture while we’ve got it!