17g Non-Woven Frost Protection Fleece 1.6m x 10m - Lightweight Garden Cover for Plants & Crops

Frost protection fleece is one of those things you reach for more often than you expect; this 17gsm sheet, measuring 1.6 metres by 10 metres, suits gardeners who want to extend the season at either end without a great deal of fuss.

At 17gsm this is the lightest of the three weights we carry, and that is deliberate. A lighter fleece lets through more light and air, which matters in spring when seedlings are putting on their first growth and do not want to be coddled into weakness. Laid directly over a row of newly sown vegetables or draped over young brassicas on a cold night, it traps enough warmth to lift the temperature beneath by a useful few degrees, while still allowing rain and ventilation through. The result is steadier, more even growth than you would get from leaving plants fully exposed to a changeable March or April.

The fleece also acts as a physical barrier against wind and, to a degree, against birds and insects looking for somewhere to lay eggs. It will not replace netting where serious pest pressure is the concern, but for the gap between sowing and establishment it does the job without chemicals or complicated frames.

The thing most people get wrong is leaving it on too long. Once temperatures settle and plants are growing away strongly, remove it; fleece left in place through warm weather can encourage the damp conditions that lead to fungal problems.

• Frost protection fleece, 17gsm, 1.6m x 10m
• Lightest weight in the range; suited to spring use and light frost protection
• Permeable to light, rainwater and air
• Raises temperature beneath the cover during cold spells
• Can be laid directly on plants or supported over a frame
• UV-treated for repeated seasonal use
• Other sizes and weights available separately

Lay it out as soon as night temperatures look uncertain in early spring, and you will find germination comes on noticeably faster. Store it loosely folded somewhere dry between seasons and it will see several years of use without difficulty.