50g Non-Woven Frost Protection Fleece 1.6m x 10m - Winter Plant Cover for Gardens & Agriculture

Frost protection fleece is the most straightforward way to extend your growing season at either end of the year, and this 50gsm weight is the one to reach for when a hard winter is the concern.

Lay it over brassicas, root vegetables or tender perennials and it holds a warmer, more sheltered microclimate beneath the cover; not dramatically so, but enough to make a material difference when the temperature drops sharply overnight. Light, rainwater and air pass through the fabric, so plants continue to photosynthesise and take up water without you needing to lift the fleece every time it rains. Ventilation through the weave also keeps the air moving, which discourages the damp, still conditions that encourage mould.

The 50gsm fleece is the heaviest of the three weights we carry, and it is the right choice for winter protection rather than the lighter grades suited to spring. Where gardeners sometimes go wrong is in reaching for a heavier fleece than the season calls for; in spring, a 17gsm or 30gsm sheet lets through considerably more light, which matters when days are short and seedlings are establishing. For winter work, the trade-off is worthwhile.

Anchor the edges properly, with pegs, stones or a batten of timber, and the fleece will stay put through wind and snow rather than lifting and tearing. Stored dry at the end of the season, it will give several years of use.

• Frost protection fleece, 50gsm weight, for winter use
• Sheet size: 1.6 metres x 10 metres
• Permeable to light, rainwater and air
• UV-stabilised fabric
• Suitable for vegetables, fruit, ornamentals and overwintering tender plants
• Lighter weights (17gsm, 30gsm) available separately for spring use
• Secure edges to prevent lifting in wind

Put it down before the first forecast frost rather than after, and you will find it earns its keep from the first season. It works well alongside cloches for the most vulnerable plants, and alongside the lighter fleece weights as the year turns and you move from protecting to encouraging growth.