This problem can be worsened in northern Florida when cool temperatures cause overlapping with more northerly states. Production systems that moderate temperature and protect from cold winds can provide for more consistent crop timing and even earlier harvests. Plastic mulch is one technique that can be used to secure earlier yields. Another tool for growth enhancement is row covers. Row covers are flexible, transparent, or semitransparent materials used to enclose single or multiple rows of plants with the objective of moderating temperature and protecting from wind.
Clear polyethylene provides increased temperatures by the greenhouse effect.
Clear tunnels usually increase temperature too much for most days during the spring in Florida, so the tunnels need to be ventilated by perforating the plastic. White polyethylene can provide some growth enhancement while avoiding the extremely high temperatures in the tunnel. Clear polythylene and white polypropylene wire hoop supported low tunnels for ealry vegetables. Nonwoven covers are fabric-like and can be placed over rows in tunnel fashion or can be laid on the crop in floating fashion. Row cover use should be planned so that benefit from temperature moderation results.