Tulle: perfect summer crop cover!

I purchased parthenocarpic cucumber seeds this year, with the intention of growing them under row cover to prevent insect-borne pathogens. In a discussion of row cover options in the vegetable and fruit forum, Sandy (Weedwhacker) suggested using tulle for this purpose instead of spun polystyrene, and it's really working well! Sandy uses it to keep flea beetles off her broccoli. I love that I can see through it to check on the plants without dismantling my system of clips. If you can find it in light green, that's a nicely unobtrusive color in the veggie garden.



The cucumber plants do like to stick their tendrils to the fabric, so as they grow you may need to nudge them back onto their trellis. With my freestanding trellis, I clipped the fabric to the trellis on both sides but was careful not to clip both sides of the fabric together, creating a narrow, sheltered space for the vines to grow.

Elaine (Dyzzypyxxy) promoted tulle as a humane alternative to bird netting. Birds and small animals can get tangled in the netting but not in the tiny openings in tulle mesh. She also mentioned that she's been able to find tulle in fabric stores that's nearly 10 feet wide, which would have been easier to work with than the 52 inch material I found on Amazon. Using 2 overlapping layers on my cucumber trellis worked out fine, but I'd want wider material for covering berry bushes or fruit trees.



Clothespins or strong "chip clips" or binder clips are good for securing the fabric to whatever support you're using. Remember to use rocks or landscape staples along the bottom edge to keep critters from sneaking under – I lost a few plants to a marauding bunny that way.

Tulle offers little if any protection from cold, but it's perfect for preventing damage from insects, insect-borne pathogens, birds, and rabbits. Please share the ways you've used it in your garden.

Broccoli under green tulle photo by Weedwhacker. Cucumber trellis under tulle and binder clip on row cover photos by Critterologist. Please don't use/copy without permission. Thanks!