Abstract: A retractable, plastic enclosure (30) for row crops, ideally tomatoes, comprises a pair of plastic walls (33, 34) bordering the seedbed (22) that are supported by spaced-apart ribs (40, 42). Row crops between the closed walls are shielded from extreme conditions including frost, heavy rain, freeze, hail, and winds. The multi-ply, plastic walls are formed by folding a sheet of plastic. Arcuate ribs (40, 42) flexibly secure the walls in symmetric, spaced apart, parallel rows adjoining crops on either side of the raised seedbed. The walls may be yieldably drawn together or forced apart by drawstrings (82, 80). The ribs are formed from multiple separate strips (50, 52) that are stapled together and sandwich at least one wall layer. The drawstrings are routed between spaced-apart rib guides in a zigzag fashion. Tensioning of the lower drawstring closes the walls, sheltering the young row crops. The upper drawstring opens the walls.

Abstract: A retractable, plastic enclosure (30) for row crops, ideally tomatoes, comprises a pair of plastic walls (33, 34) bordering the seedbed (22) that are supported by spaced-apart ribs (40, 42). Row crops between the closed walls are shielded from extreme conditions including frost, heavy rain, freeze, hail, and winds. The multi-ply, plastic walls are formed by folding a sheet of plastic. Arcuate ribs (40, 42) flexibly secure the walls in symmetric, spaced apart, parallel rows adjoining crops on either side of the raised seedbed. The walls may be yieldably drawn together or forced apart by drawstrings (82, 80). The ribs are formed from multiple separate strips (50, 52) that are stapled together and sandwich at least one wall layer. The drawstrings are routed between spaced-apart rib guides in a zigzag fashion. Tensioning of the lower drawstring closes the walls, sheltering the young row crops. The upper drawstring opens the walls.