How to Protect Your Crops from Frost This Winter | SA Farmers Guide
Every South African farmer knows the feeling — you wake up to a white-grey morning, step outside, and your heart sinks. Frost has hit overnight, and the damage to your crops could mean weeks of lost income. Whether you're growing tomatoes in Limpopo, vegetables on the Highveld, or seedlings in the Western Cape, frost protection is not optional — it's essential.
The good news? A simple, affordable solution exists: frost cover cloth. And at GP Lawnmowers, we stock a high-quality 17 GSM Frost Cover, 2.1m wide, sold per meter — so you only pay for exactly what you need.
Why Frost Is a Farmer's Worst Enemy in Winter
South African winters — especially on the Highveld, in the Free State, and in the Karoo — can bring overnight temperatures well below 0°C. Even a single frost event can:
- Kill young seedlings and transplants overnight
- Damage the cell structure of leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and cabbage
- Destroy tomato, pepper, and bean crops that are close to harvest
- Set back citrus and subtropical fruit trees by weeks
The financial impact of one bad frost night can wipe out an entire season's profit margin. Prevention is always cheaper than replanting.
What Is Frost Cover Cloth and How Does It Work?
Frost cover cloth (also called frost fleece, frost netting, or crop cover) is a lightweight, non-woven fabric that acts as a thermal blanket for your plants. Our 17 GSM frost cover works by:
- Trapping radiant heat from the soil overnight, keeping the microclimate under the cover several degrees warmer
- Allowing air and light to pass through — so you can leave it on during the day without harming your crops
- Reducing wind chill — a major factor in frost damage on open farmland
- Protecting against light hail and dew as a bonus
Which Crops Benefit Most from Frost Cover?
Almost any crop can benefit, but these are the most critical to protect in South African winters:
- Tomatoes — extremely frost-sensitive, especially at flowering and fruiting stage
- Peppers and chillies — will die back completely in a hard frost
- Green beans and peas — tender crops that need protection below 2°C
- Seedling trays and nursery stock — young plants have no cold hardiness
- Lettuce, spinach, and baby leaf crops — frost causes cell damage and unmarketable product
- Citrus and subtropical trees — young trees especially need protection in their first few winters
How to Use Frost Cover on Your Farm
Using frost cover is simple and can be done without expensive equipment:
- Measure your rows or beds — our cover is 2.1m wide, ideal for draping over standard vegetable rows or low tunnel hoops
- Order by the meter — only buy what you need. A 50m row needs 50m of cover. No waste, no excess cost.
- Drape or peg over hoops — use wire hoops or stakes to keep the cover off the foliage for best results
- Secure the edges — weigh down or peg the sides to prevent wind from lifting the cover overnight
- Remove or vent during warm days — the cover is breathable, but on warm winter days you can fold it back to allow full sun exposure
Why Buy Per Meter Instead of a Fixed Roll?
Most frost cover is sold in fixed roll lengths — 10m, 50m, or 100m — which means small-scale farmers and market gardeners often end up paying for material they don't use. Our frost cover is sold per meter, which means:
- You pay only for what you need
- Perfect for smallholders, plot farmers, and market gardeners
- Ideal for protecting specific high-value crops without covering an entire field
- Great for testing frost cover on a small section before scaling up
Order Your Frost Cover Before Winter Hits
Don't wait for the first frost warning to scramble for protection. Stock up now and be ready. Our 17 GSM Frost Cover (2.1m wide) is available online and delivered flat-packed to your door — no rolling, no mess.
👉 Buy Frost Cover Per Meter — Order Online Now
Questions? Contact the GP Lawnmowers team — we're here to help you protect your crops and your livelihood this winter.