There are various reasons why you can cover a flower or vegetable bed and also different construction methods. The type of cover you choose for your beds depends on what you intend to do with it.
Harvesting can be done earlier in the covered cold frame
What is a canopy for?
With a canopy you protect your bed from almost all weather conditions, similar to a greenhouse. A cold frame keeps the frost away and creates a warm, humid climate. Underneath you can bring flowers and vegetables very early and do not have to wait for the end of the ice saints.
If you live in a rainy area, the tomato harvest is often more dependent on luck than on gardening skills. A canopy can help here and save your harvest.
What types of roofing are there?
You can build a bed canopy closed or open, depending on whether you want ventilation or not. A closed canopy is suitable, for example, for use as a cold frame. It prevents the plants underneath from freezing. An open canopy, on the other hand, allows you to protect tomatoes from excessive moisture.
In addition to the various purposes, bed canopies can also be differentiated according to their construction or durability. A simple construction is only intended for one season and may then no longer be usable, while a sustainable one can be used repeatedly or even permanently for several years.
How can I build a canopy myself?
The simplest form of covering a bed (for a season) is probably a foil tunnel. (€11.46) You can get this at a hardware store or garden center together with detailed assembly instructions. Alternatively, you can build a similar structure yourself using thick, transparent film and battens. For a more complex canopy that will last for several years, make sure you have a solid foundation. Here you can also use plexiglass instead of foil.
The essentials in brief:
- Protection against frost and/or rain
- Can be used as a cold frame
- simplest version: foil tunnel
- open construction provides ventilation
- closed construction creates a warm, humid climate
- Always align rain protection against the weather side
tips
Always point the closed side of an open bed canopy towards the weather side, otherwise you will not have the desired effect.