Row cover use should be planned so that benefit from temperature moderation results. Row covers should be removed soon after flowering begins for insect-pollinated crops or before temperature increases too much. Economics of row cover use must be evaluated by the grower. More information on use of row covers in Florida can be found in Circ. Frost Protection Protecting crops from frost and freezes has been a continual problem for vegetable growers in Florida.
Several options are available including sprinkler irrigation, soil banking, and crop covers.
Each method has application in certain areas for certain crops. Young crops can be protected from frost by covering with soil. This is used commonly for potatoes which have large energy reserves in the seed piece to grow out from the soil covering. Other crops would need to be physically uncovered. Early melons and sweet corn or beans can be planted in a small trench in which the seedlings are protected from frost by the warm surrounding soil mass.