Notice Correction: About the caterpillar tunnel - it turns out that David actually built it and I came over and helped with the plastic and videoed the covering process. 🙂 Also he used 24 foot bows (vs. 20 foot) which resulted in a tunnel that is about 15 feet wide.
Downloads
Protecting Your Veggies WorksheetDownload the worksheet for this session. Space has been provided for those who would like to take notes. 🙂
Extra Resources
Video Presentation From Winter Training Series
Notice Correction: When Eliot Coleman get's the 30º of difference from outside his hoophouse to under his second cover he is actually using cold frames inside the greenhouse and not row covers. You will probably not get 15º of temperature difference under a row cover - but should be able to get around 5º and maybe even possibly as high as 10º depending on the conditions.
And about the caterpillar tunnel - it turns out that David actually built it and I came over and helped with the plastic and videoed the covering process. 🙂 Also he used 24 foot bows (vs. 20 foot) which resulted in a tunnel that is about 15 feet wide.
Agriculture Zones
Find out what zone you are in (United States):
Calculate Your Agriculture Zone
(National Gardening Association)
For information on other countries and more information on agriculture zoning go here:
USDA Hardiness Zones
Here is a full table listing all the zones and their corresponding temperatures. You could also use this table to figure out what zone you are in by matching it with the coldest temperatures that you experience during the winter.
| Zone | From | To | |
| 0 | a | < −53.9 °C (−65 °F) | |
| b | −53.9 °C (−65 °F) | −51.1 °C (−60 °F) | |
| 1 | a | −51.1 °C (−60 °F) | −48.3 °C (−55 °F) |
| b | −48.3 °C (−55 °F) | −45.6 °C (−50 °F) | |
| 2 | a | −45.6 °C (−50 °F) | −42.8 °C (−45 °F) |
| b | −42.8 °C (−45 °F) | −40 °C (−40 °F) | |
| 3 | a | −40 °C (−40 °F) | −37.2 °C (−35 °F) |
| b | −37.2 °C (−35 °F) | −34.4 °C (−30 °F) | |
| 4 | a | −34.4 °C (−30 °F) | −31.7 °C (−25 °F) |
| b | −31.7 °C (−25 °F) | −28.9 °C (−20 °F) | |
| 5 | a | −28.9 °C (−20 °F) | −26.1 °C (−15 °F) |
| b | −26.1 °C (−15 °F) | −23.3 °C (−10 °F) | |
| 6 | a | −23.3 °C (−10 °F) | −20.6 °C (−5 °F) |
| b | −20.6 °C (−5 °F) | −17.8 °C (0 °F) | |
| 7 | a | −17.8 °C (0 °F) | −15 °C (5 °F) |
| b | −15 °C (5 °F) | −12.2 °C (10 °F) | |
| 8 | a | −12.2 °C (10 °F) | −9.4 °C (15 °F) |
| b | −9.4 °C (15 °F) | −6.7 °C (20 °F) | |
| 9 | a | −6.7 °C (20 °F) | −3.9 °C (25 °F) |
| b | −3.9 °C (25 °F) | −1.1 °C (30 °F) | |
| 10 | a | −1.1 °C (30 °F) | +1.7 °C (35 °F) |
| b | +1.7 °C (35 °F) | +4.4 °C (40 °F) | |
| 11 | a | +4.4 °C (40 °F) | +7.2 °C (45 °F) |
| b | +7.2 °C (45 °F) | +10 °C (50 °F) | |
| 12 | a | +10 °C (50 °F) | +12.8 °C (55 °F) |
| b | > +12.8 °C (55 °F) | ||
Source: Wikipedia Hardiness Zone
Floating Row Covers, Plastic, Accessories and Resources
Here are some resources for purchasing floating row covers, plastic, or other season extension materials:
Floating Row Covers, Supports, and Plastic
Seven Springs Farm (they do custom cuts)
Building a High Tunnel or Caterpillar Tunnel
Here is an instruction mannual from Johnny's Selected Seeds on using their Quick Hoops™ High Tunnel Bender to build your own metal high tunnel out of 1 3/8" fence top rail:
Here is how Windflower Farm made their own caterpillar tunnels:
Caterpillar Tunnels at Windflower Farm - University of Vermont (PDF)
Suggested Reading
For a deeper look into this module read the following:
Four Season Harvest: p. 72-103
The New Organic Grower: p. 204-239
5 Comments
Kim Plaster
August 19, 2018Hi!
The PDF for Building a High Tunnel or Caterpillar Tunnel at Johnny Seeds doesn’t exist through the link in this lesson.
Thanks!
Paul
August 20, 2018Hey thanks Kim! Looks like they might have moved it here. Here’s the updated link: download here. I’ll update it on the page too. 🙂
Ken
August 26, 2019Hey Paul!
Do you know what David used for the ground posts on his caterpillar tunnel?
Thank you.
Paul
August 30, 2019Great question Ken! So I don’t remember the exact diameter but I believe it was simply a larger metal pipe pounded into the ground. You’ll just want to make sure that the fence rail pipe that is bent over can fit into it. Sorry that I don’t have the specifics on that one!
Susan
April 17, 2024Hi Paul
I need to purchase insect protection row covers for my 30” beds. What size width? 6’ or 10’?
I think I would also like to try the wire hoops. Can you tell me what gauge of high tension wire I should use ? Thank you