Agribon Row Covers

May 2020 research by Becky Hatch

WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT NUMBERS MEAN?

• AG-70 = ultimate durability for extended use, highest protection, weighs 2.0 oz per square yard, provides up to 8˚F of protection, allows 30% light transmission. (3 seasons of use?) – protects to 24˚F
• AG-50 = high level of protection, 1.5 oz/square yard; provides up to 8˚F of protection, 50% light transmission, protects to 24˚F

OUR NEEDS:

• 4 beds (4 x 8’ size) = (or 4’ x 16’ for joined beds)
  • AGRIBON: about 32’ of 13’ wide cloth (size 8’ x 13’ / bed)
  • PLASTIC SHEETING: for each bed we need about 7’x 14’ (NOTE: Use 9 or 10 gauge wire stuck in box connectors for plastic – need about 6” gap above Agribon cloth)

SOURCES:

• Johnny Seeds:
  • AG-70 = 13’x 100’ = $103.00 plus shipping
  • AG-70 = 26’x 100’ = $220.00 plus shipping
  • AG-50 = 14’x 500’ = $363.00 plus shipping (only length for this width) (Cost for what we need = ~ $60.00 plus shipping = 1/6 of length)
• Arbico Organics (more expensive than Johnny Seeds for 13’)
  • AG-70 – 13’x300’ = $340.00 plus shipping
  • AG-70 – 26’x300’ = $602.00 plus shipping
  • AG-50 – 26’x 26’ = $56.99 plus shipping (Cost for what we need = $57.00 plus shipping = $72.21 – we would have left overs – enough for six of our beds)
  • AG-50 – 14’x 14’ (2 pack) = $39.99 plus shipping (Cost for what we need = ~ $80.00 plus shipping – 4 packs)
• American Netting
  • COLD SNAP (similar to AG-50, but 55% light transmission)
    • 10’x 12’ = $13.79 plus shipping (the only size available) (Cost for what we need = ~ $54.00 plus shipping – quantity of 4)
• Dearfield Supplies (270) 265-2425 – located in Kentucky – no internet site Out of supply until August

PLASTIC SHEETING: 4 ml heavy duty (one year use); 6 ml (multi-year application)

• Amazon
  • 12’x 100’ – $79.95 (Xpose Safety)
  • 10’x 25’ (x 2 rolls) = $26.39 (Warp Brothers) (Cost for our needs = 2 rolls = $27.00 – one year use?)
  • 10’x 25’ (6 mil) = $18.27 (TRM)
  • 12’x 100’ (6 mil) = $51.48 (Poly America)
  • 8’x 25’ (6 ml – greenhouse plastic – 4 year) = $37.98 (Cost for our needs = 2 rolls = $76.00)
  • 12’x 25’ (6 ml – greenhouse plastic – 4 year) = $49.96 (Cost for our needs = 2 rolls = $100.00 with extra)
  • 9’x 25’ (6 ml – greenhouse plastic – 4 year) = $27.19 + $12.91 for shipping) (Cost for our needs = 2 rolls = $80.00)
  • 16’x 30’ (6 ml – greenhouse plastic – 4 year) = $74.99 (A&A) (Cost for our needs = 1 roll = $75.00)

BEST COLD-HARDY VEGETABLES:

Other cold-hardy vegetables include chives, peas, radishes, and green onions.