Claims extracted
23
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
4%
1 of 23 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Toronto Star's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Environment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Most of my summer vegetables are winding down now, the cooling temperatures serving as a cue that their mission has been nearly accomplished.
asserted
mission → wind → cue
But if frost threatens before the last of my tomatoes have turned red, I’ll drape a sheet of sheer fabric over their supporting cages to provide some warmth.
asserted
I → threaten → warmth
The white fabric sheets, sold as “row covers,” can be used two ways: floating, which is to say draped over plants, or hooped, which means affixing them to hoops inserted into the ground.
asserted
which → sell → ground
The latter method is more protective of fragile stems and foliage, as the hoops keep the fabric, however light, from crushing plant parts.
asserted
hoops → keep → parts
Row covers will also do a fantastic job of protecting cool-season vegetables, such as spinach, radishes, cucumbers, potatoes, kale and lettuces as colder weather arrives.
asserted
weather → do → spinach
Consider which weight is best for your row covers
The UV-protectant sheets can’t perform miracles, of course.
asserted
sheets → consider → course
But they can raise the temperature around plants by up to 8 degrees F, which can mean the difference between life and death.
asserted
which → raise → life
You’ll find row covers available in various sizes, and they can be easily trimmed to fit your needs, if necessary.
asserted
they → find → needs
They’re also available in three weight grades.
asserted
They → ’re → grades
Lightweight materials offer only a couple degrees of protection, so they are primarily used as insect barriers in spring.
asserted
they → offer → spring
They also allow roughly 90% of sunlight to reach plants.
asserted
% → allow → plants
Heavy fabrics provide the most warming, but block sunlight and water considerably.
asserted
fabrics → provide → sunlight
Their use also risks raising the temperature too high.
asserted
use → risk → temperature
Medium-weight fabrics strike a balance by allowing 70% to 85% of sunlight to reach plants, and warming the surrounding air by 4-6 degrees F.
asserted
85 → strike → degrees
That might not sound like much, but it can allow several extra weeks of growing time.
uncertain
it → sound → time
And protected brassicas (such as cabbages, broccoli and kale), leafy greens and root vegetables that survive the entire winter under covering will hit the ground running come spring, long before their spring-planted counterparts acclimate.
asserted
counterparts → protect → spring
You’ll still need to secure the sheet’s edges to protect it from going airborne in the wind.
asserted
You → need → wind
Row covers can be used over a single in-ground or potted plant, an entire row of crops or a raised bed.
asserted
covers → use → crops
Keep an eye on how the plants are growing under the row covers
With protection in place, you’ll still have to monitor your plants and weather conditions.
asserted
you → keep → plants
Assess the soil’s moisture levels periodically to ensure your plants are getting enough water.
asserted
plants → assess → water
Flowering plants that require pollination will need to be exposed to insects, so watch for open blossoms and remove covers to coincide with bloom times.
asserted
that → require → times
Regardless of the weight used, pull covers back on warm days to avoid “cooking” your vegetables before harvest.
___
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for The Associated Press.
asserted
Damiano → use → Press
She publishes the Weekly Dirt Newsletter.
asserted
She → publish → Newsletter
The Aporia
