6 Best Hail Nettings For Tomato Plants That Prevent Common Issues

You’ve seen the sky turn that sickly green-gray, and you know what’s coming. A few minutes of pounding hail can wipe out months of careful work tending your tomato plants. The right netting isn’t just an accessory; it’s an insurance policy for your harvest.

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Why Hail Netting Is Essential for Tomatoes

Hail does more than just bruise a few ripening fruits. It shreds leaves, the solar panels that power the entire plant. Without enough healthy leaf surface, your tomatoes can’t produce the sugars needed to grow and ripen, effectively stalling your entire crop.

Even worse, every dent and tear is an open wound. These wounds are perfect entry points for fungal and bacterial diseases like blight and anthracnose. A hailstorm can turn a healthy patch into a diseased mess in a matter of days, long after the ice has melted.

Think of netting as a shield. It’s not just about saving the tomatoes that are on the vine today. It’s about protecting the plant’s ability to keep producing for the rest of the season. A small investment in a cover prevents the total loss of your time, effort, and future BLTs.

Agfabric Plant Cover for Heavy-Duty Protection

When you live in an area where hail is a serious, frequent threat, a simple bird net won’t cut it. Agfabric’s heavier plant covers, often sold as "frost blankets," offer a fantastic dual-purpose solution. Their thicker, non-woven fabric can absorb the impact of significant hailstones, preventing them from tearing through to your plants.

The tradeoff here is light and air penetration. This is not a "set it and forget it" solution. You’ll need to deploy it when a storm is imminent and remove it afterward to prevent overheating and ensure your plants get enough sun.

However, its strength is its primary selling point. This is the cover you use when you expect marble-sized hail or larger. It requires a sturdy support frame—simple PVC hoops or a wooden A-frame work well—to keep the fabric’s weight off the plants themselves. It’s heavy-duty protection for high-stakes weather.

VIVOSUN Bird Netting for Lightweight Coverage

Let’s be realistic: not everyone needs a bomb-proof shelter for their tomatoes. If your area sees only occasional, pea-sized hail, a standard bird netting like the kind VIVOSUN offers can be perfectly adequate. It’s inexpensive, lightweight, and incredibly easy to handle by yourself.

This type of netting works by breaking the hail’s momentum. The small stones hit the flexible mesh and bounce off or are slowed enough that they don’t damage the plant. It won’t stop a severe hailstorm, but it will absolutely prevent the pock-marking and minor leaf shredding from a light summer squall.

The key is to suspend it a few inches above your plants. Draping it directly on the foliage offers almost no protection, as the hail will just push the net down onto the leaf. Use simple stakes or your existing tomato cages to create a tent-like structure. For the price, it’s an excellent first line of defense.

Garden Guard Netting: Versatile Pest & Hail Use

The best tools on a small farm are the ones that do more than one job. Garden Guard and similar brands offer a fine mesh netting that pulls double duty, protecting against both pests and light hail. The mesh is typically small enough to exclude cabbage moths, squash bugs, and other flying pests, which is a huge bonus.

This versatility makes it a smart investment. You’re not just buying hail insurance; you’re getting season-long pest control. The finer mesh still allows for excellent light and water penetration, so you can often leave it on for extended periods, unlike heavier fabric covers.

The main consideration is airflow. On very hot, still days, the reduced circulation can slightly increase the temperature under the net. However, for most situations, the combined benefit of stopping small hail and preventing insect damage makes this a top contender for the practical hobby farmer.

Terra-Net Pro Series for Large Garden Plots

Once your garden grows beyond a few raised beds, buying small, pre-packaged nets becomes expensive and inefficient. This is where professional-grade netting like the Terra-Net Pro Series comes in. You buy it in large rolls, allowing you to cover entire rows of tomatoes with a single, continuous piece.

This is a step up in durability. Made from UV-stabilized polyethylene, this netting is designed to withstand years of sun exposure without becoming brittle and breaking down. It’s a "buy it once, use it for a decade" kind of product.

Of course, working with a large roll requires a more robust support system. You’ll want to think in terms of T-posts and high-tensile wire or a permanent hoop house structure. It’s more work upfront, but the result is a semi-permanent fortress for your crops that you can rely on year after year.

CropSafe Anti-Hail Net for Commercial Quality

If you’ve lost an entire crop to hail before, you might be ready to stop messing around. CropSafe is the kind of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) netting that small commercial growers use. It has a specific woven design, often a leno weave, that is incredibly strong and tear-resistant.

This material is built for one purpose: deflecting hail. It has a high tensile strength, meaning it can take a direct impact from a large hailstone without ripping. It’s also heavily UV-treated, ensuring it lasts through the most intense summer sun for many seasons.

This is an investment, not a cheap fix. The cost per square foot is higher, and it absolutely requires a strong, well-anchored frame to support it. But if tomatoes are a critical crop for you, the peace of mind that comes with knowing your plants are protected by professional-grade material is worth the price.

Harvest-Pro Easy-Install Netting for Beginners

Not everyone wants to build a complex support structure. For beginners or those with just a few plants, kits like the Harvest-Pro Easy-Install are a lifesaver. These often come with everything you need: pre-cut netting, flexible fiberglass poles that form hoops, and clips to secure it all.

The appeal is speed and simplicity. You can have a small row of tomatoes covered and protected in under 15 minutes with no tools required. This is perfect for the urban gardener with a couple of raised beds or someone who decides they need protection right now as a storm rolls in.

The tradeoff is usually durability and cost-effectiveness. The components may not last as many seasons as their heavy-duty counterparts, and the price for a small, all-in-one kit is higher than buying bulk materials. But for convenience and immediate protection, they can’t be beaten.

Choosing Your Netting: Mesh Size and Material

Ultimately, the "best" netting depends entirely on your situation. Don’t just buy the first thing you see. Instead, think through these key factors to make an informed choice that fits your garden and your climate.

First, consider mesh size.

• Larger mesh (1/2" to 1"): Excellent for deflecting medium-to-large hail. It allows for maximum airflow and light penetration. It won’t stop small pests.
• Smaller mesh (less than 1/4"): Best for stopping small, "shotgun" hail and a wide range of insects. It can slightly reduce airflow, so be mindful on hot days.

Next, look at the material.

• Polyethylene: This is the standard for durability. Look for "UV-stabilized" or "UV-treated" HDPE for the longest lifespan. Untreated plastic will become brittle in the sun within a season or two.
• Nylon: Often found in cheaper bird nettings. It’s lightweight but can stretch and degrade more quickly in the sun. It’s a fine choice for occasional use but not for a semi-permanent structure.

Finally, remember that the net is only as good as its support. It must be held taut and several inches above the plants. A sagging net that rests on the foliage provides almost no protection. Whether you use simple stakes, PVC hoops, or a sturdy wooden frame, a strong support structure is non-negotiable for effective hail protection.

Protecting your tomatoes from hail isn’t about finding a single perfect product, but about matching the right tool to your specific threat level, garden size, and budget. By thinking through the tradeoffs, you can ensure that a sudden summer storm won’t be the end of your hard-earned harvest.